Do you want to work with others in your area to take action on climate change? Are you keen to reach as many different people and groups as possible, and together have the most impact?
This program is for you!
Darebin, Yarra and Merri-bek Councils are offering a nine session program to support people across our cities to work together to take effective action on climate change.
We believe that climate action is for everyone and comes in many forms – education campaigns, advocacy, community projects, conversations and more!
Merri-bek is committed to climate justice, and we want to support First Nations People, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities and other community members who are underrepresented in the environment movement through this program.
You will:
- Deepen your level of climate action, wherever you are at
- Learn new skills you can apply to a project you love in your community – community gardens, renewable energy, reducing waste or advocacy
- Meet and work with others in Merri-bek who are passionate about climate action.
Who is it for?
Whether you’ve been engaged with climate or environmental issues for a long time, or if you’re new, this program is for you if you’re wanting to:
- Deepen your level of climate action, wherever you are at
- Consider, or reconnect with, how you can take climate action in ways that suit your unique skills, experience, networks and interests
- Develop new skills to help your work have the most impact
- Use your existing networks, and/or develop new ones, to extend your reach and impact
- Meet and work with others in your community who are passionate about climate action
What you’ll get from the program
The Community Skills for Climate Action program will be led by experienced facilitators with experts brought in for various sessions. Participants will:
- Build strong relationships with people across our cities who are committed to taking climate action
- Hear from others who are active in climate action
- Explore what collective local action and advocacy can look like in our cities, and how to reach out within and beyond your networks
- Gain skills to plan and run effective campaigns, use social media and other online tools to reach people from a range of backgrounds, and ensure your actions have the most impact
- Explore working effectively with others, sharing the load and self-care
Up to 75 people will be able to take part in the program — 25 from each Council area.
Who should apply?
We’re seeking applications from enthusiastic people who:
- Live, work, study or are involved in community groups/organisations in our cities
- Over 15 years old
- Committed to take action on climate change throughout and after the program
- Able to attend all nine sessions.
We value diversity and particularly encourage applications from people from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities, and from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities.
What’s the commitment?
The nine-week program will run on the following Thursday evenings from 7 – 9pm, between late April and early September (excluding school holidays):
- Session 1: 6 May
- Session 2: 20 May
- Session 3: 3 June
- Session 4: 17 June
- Session 5: 29 July
- Session 6: 5 August
- Session 7: 19 August
- Session 8: 2 September
- Session 9: 16 September
We ask that applicants commit to attending all nine sessions, which will be a mix of face-to-face and online delivery. The first session will be face-to-face (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).
Some people may like to attend half the sessions with another person in their community group attending the rest, to help share the learnings. If you would prefer a split arrangement, please submit a joint application advising of the preferred split and including the other person’s name and contact details in Question 7).
How do I apply?
Applications for the 2021 program are now open. Register your Expression of Interest here by Sunday 18 April 2021.
Applicants will be advised whether they are successful in late April.
Contacts
If you have any queries, please contact your local council representative below. Please also get in touch if you need an alternative way to apply other than using the online form at the link above.
- Donna Luckman, Merri-bek City Council,zerocarbon@moreland.vic.gov.au, 9240 1111
Why are we running this program?
Our three councils have declared a climate emergency and have committed to rapid action to address the climate emergency under their respective Climate Emergency/Zero Carbon plans. A key component of these plans is to support our community members to take collective action on the climate emergency.
We recognise that the sheer scale and complexity of the climate emergency requires that we work together — that the actions of individuals, particular organisations or sectors cannot solve the climate crisis alone — and that local governments have a strong role to play in bringing people together and enabling them to be active citizens creating change.
We want to broaden the reach of our climate work, and help community members do the same. We believe that climate action is for everyone, and can take many forms.
Program goals
The goals of the program are to:
- Support people in working together to lead and advocate for more effective urgent, large-scale, sustained, meaningful and collective climate action.
- Grow a broader movement of diverse groups and individuals who are actively leading and engaged in community-focussed climate action to increase the reach of climate action in our communities.
- Connect people with and across existing groups and campaigns to develop a network of groups who are working together and supporting each other.
The program was developed after consultation with climate groups who are already active in our communities.
