On Wednesday, the 18th of February, the Act on Climate Collective co-hosted a screening of Floodland at Parliament House, a new documentary by filmmaker Jordan Giusti. The screening was attended by MP’s Sarah Mansfield and Rachel Payne, hosted by David Ettershank MP and with a foreword from the Minister for Climate Action, Lily D’Ambrosio MP.
Post-screening panel discussion with 'Floodland' director Jordan Giusti, impact producer AJ Linke, senior parliamentary advisor and moderator Christine Tondorf, and Act on Climate Campaigner Vicky (from left to right).
Floodland documents the devastating floods in Lismore in 2022. Following the story of resident Eli, the film guides the viewer through the lived experience of years grappling with the long-term impacts of the flood on the city and population, ultimately facing a decision to stay or leave.
As part of our work towards building climate resilience in Victoria, our collective is committed to telling the stories of people impacted by climate events across the continent. We recognise art as a powerful way to engage audiences in the reality of climate change and ignite fulfilling conversations. At the screening, Minister for Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio introduced the film, expressing the urgency of climate adaptation. The screening was followed by a brief panel on the documentary and the urgency of climate adaptation.
The story of Lismore is an example of so-called Australia's need for adaptation initiatives. In the film we see the Indigenous knowledges of Bundjalung elders highlighted as wisdom of processing collective trauma and moving into the future.
Pictures from the event, featuring David Ettershank MP and Sarah Mansfield MP.
The event was an inspiring display of solidarity in the face of what can feel like overwhelming challenges. A key moment in the film is when now Lismore City Councilor, Harper Dalton, explains that the residents are tired of being resilient and actually want to be safe.
We know that strong climate adaptation, led by communities, can provide this safety. That’s why we are campaigning for the Victorian Government to create a Victorian Community Climate Adaptation Fund (VCCAF). The fund will be for communities to initiate adaptation projects of their own, informed by local knowledge and in preparation for local climate impacts.
Together we can help prepare communities for now unavoidable climate impacts!
Get in touch if you'd like to get involved or hear more about what we're doing:
- Kimmi Bebendorf: [email protected], or
- Kim Croxford: [email protected]
Remember, you're always welcome to join Act on Climate's weekly meetings. Our organising and action meetings will take place on the alternative fortnight to the Organising Training Workshops.
All weeks include dinner. Register here for an upcoming Tuesday.
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Want to help ensure we can continue doing the vital work of preparing Vic communities for climate impacts? Please help us continue our work preparing communities for locked-in climate impacts by making a once-off donation or signing up for monthly donations and becoming a member of AoC.
Act on Climate is actively bringing together people around Vic preparing their communities, generating impactful adaptation from the grassroots, while pressuring the Vic Gov to adequately fund community-led climate adaptation.
Donations will go towards a 2026 Climate Adaptation Fair and enable us to continue free Community Resilience Mapping and other events.