Community Climate Resilience Forum

Event Details

What is the role of community in our changing climate and society? Join Geelong Sustainability and Common Ground Project for an important conversation around understanding and preparing for disaster resilience in our region. 

The panel discussion and open forum will discuss:

• The threat of climate disasters in our region.
• The role of the community in preparing for disasters.
• Examples of local-led community climate action.
• How you can get involved in your home and community.

Our aim is to support our community in building their resilience and preparedness in the event of a climate disaster. As we see an increase in climate-related emergencies and climate stress on our community, it is important that everyone feels empowered. Strength during these uncertain times comes from community readiness, awareness and action. This event will provide us with opportunities to hear from a range of professionals from diverse backgrounds sharing their experience, knowledge and insight of building climate resilience and being climate disaster prepared. 

This event is a chance to connect and network with like-minded community members and enjoy food prepared by Common Ground Project. Drinks will be available for purchase.

The Community Climate Resilience Forum is proudly a Geelong and Surf Coast based-event which is part of the National Sustainable Living Festival  https://www.slf2024.org/

The panel

Libby Skeels, Psychologist, Psychology for a Safe Climate

Libby Skeels is a registered psychologist who has worked for over 30 years with individuals, couples and families. She is a member of Psychology for a Safe Climate (PSC), speaking to those who have gone through a traumatic climate-related emergency, on a voluntary basis. One client lost his home in the Wye River fires on Christmas Day. His grief was immense, not only for his home, but also for the loss of trees and birdlife. Being able to share his feelings was an enormous benefit.

The group also supports people in facing the reality of the climate emergency. They offer several different workshops on grief and burnout, give talks about resilience and self-care, and offer climate cafes where like-minded people can meet. They aim to build people’s capacity to respond constructively to climate change by promoting and strengthening mental health and wellbeing.

Amy Tacey, Common Ground Project Food Hub Coordinator

Amy has been passionately thinking about collaborative and tangible contributions to a better food system for the past several years, including studying in this area and forming a food justice not-for-profit primarily targeted at youth. Amy’s role at Common Ground Project focuses on the coordination of the Food Hub and how it can connect the local region’s small scale producers to anyone and everyone. Amy believes that all people deserve access to high quality produce, connection with community and empowering knowledge-sharing spaces. This includes the connection between a sustainable community, disaster resilience and regenerative gardens and farms.

Wayne Aylmer, CFA Surf Coast Catchment Commander

Wayne has spent 37 years as a career firefighter, after being a volunteer firefighter in his late teens. He attended the Ash Wednesday fires as a 17-year-old volunteer on the Surf Coast, as well as the Black Saturday fires many years later. Wayne has been the Commander in District 7 (Geelong and District) for the last 10 years.

Lauren Watt, Coordinator Climate Action, Surf Coast Shire

Lauren has worked on the Surf Coast for more than a decade in the areas of community development, emergency management, disaster resilience and climate action. Lauren and her team at Surf Coast Shire lead Council’s climate emergency response, including actions to reduce emissions, adapt to the changing climate and mobilise people to take climate action. While Lauren’s work has been geared toward climate resilience for quite some time, it’s also a priority on a personal level for raising her young family in beautiful (but bushfire prone) Anglesea.

Karina Donkers, Panel Facilitator, Geelong Sustainability

Karina will facilitate the evening, creating an open discussion with these panellists who will share their experience, knowledge and insight. The forum will also be opened up to the audience, asking for their own experiences and learnings to ensure everyone feels empowered and prepared.