Skip to content Skip to footer

Mobilising climate just and resilient communities in the west

Publication date: 9 June 2022

More than 30 representatives from state health, environment and utility agencies, local governments, health and community service organisations in Melbourne’s west gathered recently to identify shared priorities to mobilise climate justice, as part of a forum organised by Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places.

Centre for Just Places’ Executive Director, Susie Moloney, said “community service and health organisations are on the frontline dealing with the everyday impacts of climate change on communities, such as heat stress. There are important voices in this room, and these voices can speak up to government and others on what needs to happen in the west to address a range of inequities and also build on the region’s strengths.”

Extreme weather caused by climate change often affects people already experiencing disadvantage first and hardest, exacerbating existing inequalities. And community services organisations themselves are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, through disruption to their services. How we respond to climate change – both its impacts and our approach to reducing emissions – has the potential to create opportunities for people or to cause further marginalisation and harm. We need to elevate questions of justice in how we design responses to climate change – questions such as: who is most impacted and why, how we better prepare for and minimise those impacts, and how we ensure the voices of communities shape responses.

The forum was an opportunity for participants to make connections across organisations, talk about what’s already happening in the west, where the gaps are, and how we might collaborate. Forum participants brainstormed priority actions in a range of areas including:

  • Supporting organisational capacity and change
  • Creating ways to share information and communication channels
  • Shared advocacy to address the drivers of risk
  • Using methods of community organising
  • Supporting community and engagement
  • Improving physical and social infrastructure provision

This action forum will inform a strategic action plan – a shared resource for the health and community services sector in the west of Melbourne. The plan is due for release in September 2022.

This event was part of the Mobilising climate just and resilient communities in Melbourne’s West project, funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. The project is delivered by Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places, in partnership with organisations supporting health and wellbeing in the local government areas of Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Wyndham and Hobsons Bay, including IPC Health, GenWest, Network West, VCOSS, Brimbank City Council, City of Melton, Hobsons Bay City Council, and Wyndham City Council, and with stakeholder input by the Victorian Department of Health.

More information

Want to find out more?

Browse some of our other articles and stories

Our stories
Making something out of nothing: from bottle tops to tools and wisdom
Most people see discarded bottle caps from milk and soft drink bottles as rubbish. Stuart Muir Wilson, Program Coordinator at our Ecological Justice Hub, sees them as a way to reimagine climate education and climate action in schools.
Our stories
Alliance key to climate justice in the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is on the frontline of intensifying heat, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. Remote communities and homelands across the Territory are particularly at risk of these impacts with many Aboriginal communities already facing food insecurity, a lack of safe drinking water and access to reliable, affordable electricity. The Climate Justice Alliance, established in the Territory in 2021, strives towards a just transition - one that focuses on adapting to the impacts of climate change, and on the alternative economic futures needed to ensure justice for people and planet.
Our stories
Neighbourhood houses building climate resilience and community connections
In the city of Darebin, nestled in the inner north of Melbourne, there are many community members who experience multiple forms of disadvantage and are vulnerable to the impacts of heat. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the Centre for Just Places is working closely with communities like Darebin, to build climate resilience. The Centre empowers them to cope with the impacts of climate change and to continue thriving as connected, vibrant communities.
Our stories
School canteens feed curiosity
The Currawong Kitchen school canteen was established in 2020 to provide healthy school snacks, catering, and food hampers to families in the historically disadvantaged and under-serviced area of Mount Druitt. Two school canteens now sit alongside Jesuit Social Services’ affordable grocery stores, Ignite Food Store and Open Pantry, where the parents of school children can shop in a supportive, educational, low-cost setting. As Chandelle, who oversees Jesuit Social Services' food security programs in Western Sydney, explains "We’re different from a typical school canteen. We’re passionate about inspiring children to be curious about what they eat and encourage them to try a variety of healthy foods. We want them to develop their palates and trust their taste."
Our stories
Nine Yarra neighbourhood houses join forces to strengthen local climate resilience
Nine Yarra neighbourhood houses gathered this week to launch a plan to reduce their environmental footprint and support the local community to adapt to climate change.
Our stories
Open Pantry helping provide food security and connection
Hear how Open Pantry delivers healthy meals and community for the Western Sydney residents.
View from The Bush Hut
Our stories
Jesuit Social Services staff explore how nature-based therapy can enhance their practice
On a rainy morning in a patch of Kew bushland, Jesuit Social Services staff gathered to learn about nature-based therapeutic practice and the ways it can enhance their work with participants, and improve their own wellbeing.