Neighbourhood houses building climate resilience and community connections - Jesuit Social Services

Alphington Community Centre is part of the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network

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. One initiative supported by the Centre for Just Places, working closely with the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network, shines as a beacon of what is needed to enable community-driven climate resilience. It exemplifies how grassroots activity can lessen climate risks and build community cohesion.

“There are close to 400 neighbourhood houses in Victoria and over a thousand across Australia. We started working with them as they are already an important part of local communities”, explains Jack Piper, Climate Justice Coordinator at the Centre for Just Places.

Neighbourhood houses provide services to people and communities who are most at-risk from the impacts of climate change. However, the houses are also at risk of disruption during periods of heightened need, placing the communities they support at even greater risk.

Jack Piper

Climate Justice Coordinator at the Centre for Just Places

Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins, the Climate Justice Coordinator for the Network, knows how important it is for neighbourhood houses to be ready to support their communities. “In an extreme heatwave, communities become isolated, especially vulnerable communities, because people can’t leave their houses or continue their social activities.

“Neighbourhood houses are often the only places where they get to speak to somebody besides staff at the local shops. It’s vital that we support people to stay connected.” Carmen explains. Working closely with the Centre for Just Places, the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network strengthened its capacity to plan for climate change. The Network hopes to empower community members to take steps towards building resilience in their homes and neighbourhoods.

Thanks to the work we’ve done with the Centre for Just Places, we are prepared to respond quickly. We can pivot within four days and start responding to heatwaves.

Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins

Climate Justice Coordinator for the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network

The Darebin Neighbourhood House Network, supported by the Centre for Just Places, now works collaboratively to ensure that all Darebin residents can build climate resilience and grow community connection.

Since working with the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network, our Centre for Just Places has developed a practical climate resilience guide for other neighbourhood house networks to follow.

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