;
;
Recent research confirms people experiencing poverty and inequality are affected first and worst by the impacts of climate change. As more frequent and intense extreme weather events continue to place stresses and strains on our communities, there is an increasing focus being placed on community service organisations to provide vital services to vulnerable people in times of crisis, reducing the heavy dependence on formal emergency services such as fire, police and ambulance.
Community service organisations are themselves vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. For example, a national survey of CSOs conducted in 2013, found that 50 per cent of organisations that sustain serious damage to their premises due to extreme weather would still be out of operation one week after the event, and 25 per cent may never provide services again . Further research shows that climate change will increase the demand on health and human services.
Project Summary
10 regional workshops to explain the program & collect information from CSOs, state & local
80CSOs participated in stage 1 workshops
179stage 1 workshop participants
Building the capacity of community service organisations to prepare for - and handle - natural disasters and other impacts of climate change is paramount.
Recognising the risks to the sector the Department of Health and Human Services commissioned Arup to develop and implement the Community Services Climate Resilience Program.
Arup’s climate change and sustainability experts are helping dozens of Community Service Organisations to understand how they can continue to operate and deliver vital services to vulnerable communities - at a time when the need for their services would be most critical.
We also help CSOs connect with each other to create valuable networks for sharing knowledge and learning.
“On days of extreme heat or bushfires, for example, there might be limits on the services CSOs can provide, there may be impacts on the staff who provide those services or there might be an internal policy preventing staff to travel on code red days. Arup’s work helps to strengthen the internal systems, processes, procedures and staff capacity so these organisations can continue to work effectively.” ”
Luke Sarsons Senior Climate Change and Sustainability Consultant
Reach of our work
Our climate change experts are involved across all three stages of this project: initial engagement and awareness raising, understanding resilience of each organisation, and co-designing resilience plans.
Understanding the sector
Our team engaged with 80 CSOs, 12 local government agencies and a number of DHHS representatives to gain an understanding of how CSOs are connected in the context of natural disaster and climate change.
Understanding the organisation
Arup, in partnership with RMIT and Loop and Co developed the Resilience Monitoring Tool, a 20 question survey which helps determine current levels of organisational resilience, their consideration of natural disasters, and climate change, and how they impact operations and service delivery.
The tool in practice
Structured around four dimensions: Culture, Place, Capability and Resources, this tool enables CSOs to understand their strengths and identify where gaps exist across the organisation. The tool is central to informing the co-design of a tailored approach for enhancing capacity, strengthening systems and building resilience.
Resilience plans to build knowledge, skill and connect
Using a range of facilitation techniques, peer learning approaches, and insights gained throughout the program, Arup is working closely with dozens of CSOs to co-design unique and tailored resilience approaches to address their specific needs. We are assisting each CSO to look at their operation through a climate change lens, helping them understand the magnitude of change anticipated, and what the consequences may be for their operations, staff, clients and physical assets.
Resilience plans to build knowledge, skill and connect
Using a range of facilitation techniques, peer learning approaches, and insights gained throughout the program, Arup is working closely with dozens of CSOs to co-design unique and tailored resilience approaches to address their specific needs. We are assisting each CSO to look at their operation through a climate change lens, helping them understand the magnitude of change anticipated, and what the consequences may be for their operations, staff, clients and physical assets.
Specific outcomes achieved include building knowledge and understanding of what resilience means; creating a broader understanding of resilience planning (current and future risks); the importance of inter-agency relationships and connectedness when faced with natural disaster impacts, and the medium to long term effects of climate change; equipping CSOs with resilience planning approaches designed specifically to meet their context and organisational needs.
We have committed to resilience actions moving forward and they are included in our everyday processes - Western District Health Service
Connecting
According to participants, one of the most valuable outcomes of the program is the establishment of engagement approaches with other organisations, enabling CSOs to cluster with others in their region, to share information and learning and potentially call on shared resources during a disaster event.
Arup’s team has been integral in the creation of a range of platforms for sharing lessons learned and building connectedness, including the delivery of over 16 resilience forums across regional and metropolitan Victoria that have brought organisations together, built awareness and established linkages and networks.
"Networking with surrounding services provided opportunities for partnership and information sharing. The information provided was made relevant for everyday life" - Hamilton Community House