This past weekend, community leaders, activists, and everyday changemakers came together at the Friends of the Earth Climate Adaptation Fair in Footscray. The energy in the gathering space was inspiring — people driven by a shared purpose: finding ways to adapt to a changing climate while strengthening the social fabric that holds us together.
For DisasterWISE, It was a day of connection and learning, hosting a stall gave us the opportunity to meet with attendees and share our vision of ‘growing a movement of people who are building disaster resilience through self-determination and community-led action’, whilst also learning more about the terrific work that’s happening on the ground, in community.
Grounding Adaptation in Community and Culture
The fair kicked off with a powerful discussion on Caring for Country & Community Ourselves, reminding us that the solutions to climate challenges are embedded in Indigenous wisdom and grassroots action. Brendan Kennedy (Tati Tati Kaiejin) spoke about the deep knowledge held by First Nations communities in managing land and water. Shweta Kawatra Dakin from GenWest and Amanda Kelly from Women’s Health Goulburn North East highlighted how climate adaptation is a gender and social justice issue—those most affected by climate impacts are often the least heard in decision-making. Kate Fawcett from DisasterWISE Communities Network then shared some of her lived experience from the Black Saturday bushfires, drawing examples from Strathewen’s community-led renewal process as a means of shared decision-making, community care and adaptation.
Beating the Heat, Together
As our summers grow hotter, how do we protect our most vulnerable? The Heat Impacts panel tackled this head-on, with Sophie Emder from Sweltering Cities and Genevieve Cowie from Doctors for the Environment shedding light on the health consequences of extreme heat. One key takeaway? We don’t just need more air conditioning—we need urban planning that prioritizes tree cover, cool public spaces, and community support networks to check in on neighbors during heatwaves.
Keeping the Lights On When Disaster Strikes
With fires, floods, and storms becoming more intense, we need secure energy and communication systems. The Energy/Communications Security During Disasters session shared real-world solutions, from community-led microgrids in Yackandandah to the advocacy efforts of Wendy Farmer and Voices of the Valley. The key message? We can’t rely on big systems alone—local resilience starts with locally controlled energy solutions.
Building Stronger, More Connected Communities
When crisis hits, communities with strong social ties recover faster and fare better. The Creating Resilient Communities panel explored how community organising, co-housing models, and networks like the Darebin Neighbourhood House Network are fostering local resilience. Anitra Nelson from the Degrowth Network spoke about how less reliance on consumerism and more focus on shared resources can make us not just more sustainable, but also more connected.
Growing Our Own Resilience: Local Food Security
Food security is climate security. The final panel of the day, Local Food Security, explored how urban farms, regenerative agriculture, and grassroots food networks are building resilient food systems. Speakers Nick Rose from Sustain: The Australian Food Network and Josh Collings from Acres and Acres Co-Op emphasised the importance of growing food locally and reclaiming our relationship with the land, whilst changing consumer patterns.
The Climate Adaptation Fair in Footscray was a powerful reminder that adaptation isn’t just about surviving- it’s about thriving. It’s about looking out for each other, learning from those who have cared for this land for generations, and creating solutions that are just, sustainable, and community-led.
DisasterWISE was honoured to be part of this gathering, and we left inspired by the stories, wisdom, and actions of those who attended. The challenges ahead are real, but so is our collective power to shape our futures where communities are stronger, just and thriving.
