Communities in a Changing Climate:
Social and equity impacts of climate change and the community sector
VCOSS and The McCaughey Centre
Karstens at CQ, 123 Queen St, Melbourne
Wednesday 25 February 2009
9:30am – 4:30pm
Program
9:30 – 9:50 Tea/coffee and registration
10:00 Welcome MC – Anne Turley, CEO, Melbourne Citymission
10:05 Opening address by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser
A.C.
10:30 The Hon. Peter Batchelor, Minister for Energy and Resource and
Community Development, will launch the report “Community Engagement in
Climate Change: Benefits, challenges and strategies”.
10:45 Where are we headed? Social justice and climate change

Current climate change trajectory for Australia and health impacts: Dr Grant
Blashki, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne

Social and equity impacts and their distribution in Victoria: Professor John
Wiseman, The McCaughey Centre, University of Melbourne
11:30 Morning tea
11:45 Climate change policy in Australia: options, impacts and the role of the
community sector
Session outline

The case for community sector involvement in climate change action and
advocacy: Mark Zirnsak, Director Justice and International Mission, Uniting
Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

Overview of federal climate change policy in Australia, impacts on low income
households and implications for the community sector: Tony Westmore,
Senior Policy Officer, ACOSS

Climate change policy and advocacy opportunities in Victoria: Cath Smith,
CEO, VCOSS
12:20 lunch
MC –Deb Tsorbaris, CEO,Council to Homeless Persons
1:00 Impacts of climate change and policies on the community sector: building
resilience and reducing our environmental impact
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Session overview

Community sector risk management, partnerships and adaptation: Lynne
Wannan, Director, Office for the Community Sector, Department of Planning
and Community Development.

Drought, emergency response and recovery: Craig Lapsley, Director,
Emergency Management, Victorian Department of Human Services.

Climate change impact on service demand and delivery: Jill Miller, CEO,
Grampians Community Health Centre.

Climate change and green jobs: Damian Sullivan, Manager, Equity in
response to climate change, Brotherhood of St Laurence.

Planning for climate change with communities: Rosie Rowe, Deputy Director,
Community Services, Western District Health Service.
2:15 Afternoon tea
2:30 Workshops

Impacts on health and community responses
o
o

Engaging vulnerable communities in climate change
o
o

Facilitator, Georgie Ferrari, CEO Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
Lead speaker John Wiseman, Director, The McCaughey Centre,
University of Melbourne.
Rural and regional services in a changing climate
o
o

Facilitator Julie Hoy, Manager, Community Health Risk Environmental
Health Unit, Public Health Branch, Department of Human Services
Lead speaker Kristine Olaris, Deputy CEO, North Yarra Community
Health
Facilitator: Taegen Edwards, The McCaughey Centre, University of
Melbourne
Lead speaker Bruce du Vergier, CEO, Community Connections,
Warrnambool.
Changing costs and demands for community services
o
o
Facilitator: David Imber, Manager Policy and Public Affairs, VCOSS
Lead speaker Paul Zanatta, Manager Community Care and Small
Rural Health, Aged and Community Care Victoria.
3:45 Report back and discussion
4:15 Wrap up
Concluding comments: Cath Smith and John Wiseman
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