A Climate Adaptation Fair is coming to town! It will showcase all things climate adaptation through stalls, workshops, and talks.

The fair will be from 10am-4pm on 8 February 2025 at Borderlands Co-op, 30A Pickett St, Footscray. This is a wheelchair accessible venue, more detailed information on accessibility at bottom of page.

It’ll be a day of celebrating and uplifting community-led climate adaptation!

Food will be provided by Food Not Bombs, and coffee from Bean Busker will be available for purchase.

What can we - the people - do to keep each other safe?

There will be information on adapting to locked-in climate change impacts - how we keep each other safe.

What are we - the people - already doing to keep each other safe?

Those already implementing projects in their communities will share their story and knowledge, so others can be inspired and learn how to do the same in their communities.

**No need to register for panel discussions, but you MUST register to attend a workshop due to limited space - info and links below!

Bluestone Hall Panel Discussions Program: 

10:15-10:30: Event Opening & Acknowledgement of Country

10:30-11.30am: Caring for Country & Community Ourselves

Hear from these speakers on Indigenous-led and Community-led climate adaptation:

• Facilitator: Kim Croxford, Dindi Transition/FoE Forests Collective
• Brendan Kennedy, Tati Tati Kaiejin
• Shweta Kawatra Dakin, GenWest
• Amanda Kelly, Women’s Health Goulburn North East
• Kate Fawcett, DisasterWISE
  

11.35-12:15pm: Heat Impacts

Hear from these speakers on heat impacts and adaptation solutions:

• Facilitator: Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins, Darebin Neighbourhood House Network Climate Justice Coordinator
  
• Sophie Emder, Sweltering Cities
• Genevieve Cowie, Doctors for the Environment
• Beth Hebdon, Urban Guerrillas
• Rebecca Abernethy, Enliven Multicultural Heat Heroes

12:20-1pm: Energy/Comms Security During Disasters

Hear from these speakers on solutions for energy and communications security:

• Facilitator: Pat Simons, FoE Yes 2 Renewables Collective
• Wendy Farmer, Voices of the Valley
• Mark Parnell, Totally Renewable Yackandandah
• Jade Ambrose, Merri-bek Tech 

1-1.45pm: Lunch break - vegan food provided by Food Not Bombs

Lunchtime gig

Ellie Ware 1-1:45pm

Ellie Ware blends alt-folk and country with deep, soulful vocals to create an evocative soundscape. A self-taught musical shapeshifter, having played in several Naarm-based music projects, Ellie is set to debut her own music later this year.

1.45-2.25pm: Creating Resilient Communities

Hear from these speakers on the role of social infrastructure in community resilience:

• Facilitator: Sarah Powers, FoE Act on Climate Collective
• Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins, Darebin Neighbourhood House Network Climate Justice Coordinator
  
• Sasha Mainsbridge, Mullum Cares
• Anitra Nelson, Degrowth Network Australia
• Elena Pereyra, Cohousing Australia

2.30-3.10pm: Climate Impacts at Work 

Hear from these speakers on work-related climate impacts:

• Zarah Rhodes, United Workers Union
• Colin Long, Just Transitions Organiser Victorian Trades Hall Council
• Inge Christinawaty, South Monash Legal Service
• Catherine Strong, Associate Professor RMIT Music Industry program 

3.15-3:55pm: Local Food Security

Hear from these speakers on agricultural climate adaptation:

• Facilitator: Peter Gartside, Footscray Community Garden & Learning Place
• Zarah Copeland, Australian Ecosystems
• Nick Rose, Sustain - The Australian Food Network
• Josh Collings, Acres and Acres Co-Op

Workshops

Follow the links to find out more about the workshops and to register - RSVPs essential for workshops: 

• 12-1:15pm: Asian Australians for Climate Solutions - Choices for a Sustainable Future
• 12-1pm: Very Edible Gardens - Beginner's Guide to Compost & Worms
• 1-2pm: Sweltering Cities - Interactive Temperature Monitoring Walk
• 1:30-2:30pm: Psychology for a Safe Climate - Climate Emotions & Collective Care
• 2:45-3:15pm: SES - Preparedness for Storm & Flood Emergencies
• 3:30-4pm: Guerilla Gardening Naarm - Commoning & Resilient Community Organising

Stalls

See the stallholder list and bios and a full program for the day here.

This event is free but we are seeking donations to cover event costs and to continue our work preparing communities for locked-in climate impacts. If you can, donate to the Act on Climate collective here: 

https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/climatedonate

This event is part of National Sustainability Festival 2025.

Accessibility

The venue is fully wheelchair accessible. There will be an indoor and outdoor chill space

Toilets: There are all gender toilets and a disabled toilet in both halls

The width of the door to access the toilets is 90cm The width of the door to access the halls is 140cm

Covid-19 Safety:

Please do NOT attend if you have any cold symptoms

We encourage you to bring and wear a mask Some masks and sanitiser will be available

There is one disabled carpark onsite To access the panel discussions and indoor chill space via wheelchair enter through the side door to the Big Bluestone Hall

Getting to the fair:

The fair is located at the Borderlands Cooperative, 30A Pickett St, Footscray

• The nearest train stations are: Footscray Station (650m/9 min walk from station to venue) Middle Footscray Station (500m/ 7 min walk to venue)
• The nearest bus stop is: Footscray Plaza SC/French St. Routes 220, 410 and 472 stop here (170m/2 min walk to venue)
• Parking: There is free parking available at and across from Raleigh Street Car Park (4hr & no limit)