A chance to hear about the health implications arising from climate change

Goulburn Valley people will soon have the chance to hear about the health implications arising from climate change.

And more importantly they will hear about what it is they can do in response to these changing circumstances.

The Shepparton-based Slap Tomorrow has arranged a climate change and community health forum for Thursday, March 27.

Alianne Rance has helped
 north western Victorian
municipalities better understand
living with climate change.

Speakers include the convenor of Melbourne Climate and Health Alliance, Fiona Armstrong; a PhD scholar from RMIT who has been exploring resilience with north-western Victorian councils, Alianne Rance; and the Victoria joint co-ordinators of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), Cameron Wheatley and Philippa Wright.

However, it is not just one event as both Ms Armstrong and Ms Rance will speak at a midday session at the University of Melbourne’s Rural Health Academic Centre in Graham St, Shepparton.



Climate and Health Alliance
convenor, Fiona Armstrong.

That session is aimed at the health fraternity from students through to practising doctors and anyone with an interest in community health.

Soon after, all four speakers meet with secondary school students at Shepparton’s McGuire College including, hopefully, some students from other secondary schools in the district.

Victorian co-coordinator of'
the AYCC, Cameron Wheatley.

Cameron Wheatley has said climate change can be quite scary for young people and AYCC is eager to have young people understand they can actually do something to avoid a sense of powerlessness and that, he points out, plays a critical role in preserving their mental health.



The evening session, at which Victoria’s Sustainability Commissioner, Professor Kate Auty, will be the moderator, will involve all four speakers and be followed by a 30 minute question and answer session.

Philippa Wright -
co-coordinator
of the Victorian branch
 of the AYCC. 

That session, that starts at 7:00pm and will be free, will be held in the Harder Auditorium at the GoTAFE College in Fryers St.

SlapTomorrow spokesman, Mr Robert McLean, said community health will move to centre stage as the effects of climate change begin to be felt throughout the society.

“Things such as fires, droughts, floods and longer, more intense heatwaves will magnify stress and beyond obvious physical difficulties, many people will find themselves struggling mentally,” Mr McLean said.

He said that although the facts of climate change can be rather daunting, the March 27 forum would provide people with ideas and ways to prepare them for what is ahead.