Community health and service organisations play a critical role in building resilience to the social and health impacts of climate change. But without the resources to plan and adapt, the sector itself is highly vulnerable to climate impacts, posing a risk of significant flow-on-effects for the Victorians they support.
The Mobilising Climate Just and Resilient Communities in Melbourne’s West initiative, was led by Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places, with funding from Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, and brought together 44 health and community service organisations, as well as policymakers, and sector networks, to identify needs, opportunities, and a strategic direction for action and advocacy in this region.
The Collaborative Action Plan reflects and builds on the diverse contributions of individuals and organisations already working at the interface of climate change, health and social justice in Melbourne’s west, and seeks to further understand the localised and systemic drivers of climate vulnerabilities for community health and service organisations in Melbourne’s west – defined as the local council areas of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham.
Download the Collaborative Action Plan
Corresponding with the objectives of the Plan, five summary briefs detail the elements of our pilot approach and method for place-based health equity and climate change adaptation planning, culminating in a framework to guide shared, strategic action on climate justice.
Report sections
Watch the Collaborative Action Plan launch webinar
Media
Plan to limit climate change impacts launched (Star Weekly)
In this article, Star Weekly – local news for Melbourne’s northern and Western suburbs – reports on the release of the Collaborative Action Plan.
Read the articleLocally and globally, what will it take to reorient towards climate justice? (Croakey)
In this article for Croakey – Informed, engaged communities for health, Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places Executive Director, Susie Moloney, and Project Officer, Andrea Wolf, discuss the importance of a justice lens for addressing the root inequities behind the climate crisis. Specifically, in being able to answer a complex question – justice for whom?
Project funders and partners
For more information
Contact the Centre’s Climate Justice Manager, Katrina Dunn, at katrina.dunn@jss.org.au.