Climate Change Adaptation for Health and Social Services

This book pulls together evidence and experience about what we need to do in local communities to support and protect the people most vulnerable to the current impacts of climate change in Australia. It will assist community based health and social services organizations to adapt to the current impacts of climate change in Australia.

The authors examine two key questions: What problems is climate change currently creating for communities, service users and health and social service organizations in local communities? What is it that organizations should do about them? To answer these questions, the authors will explore adaptation issues and actions relevant now and over the next 5–10 years. The book will discuss the experiences different populations have of climate impacts and the evidence defining their adaptation issues and actions.

The book will provide expertise from a range of researchers and NGOs, and will assist community-based health and social service organizations to think about their clients, communities, the organizations and their programs. It will be relevant to community-based health and social service agencies across Australia.

Sections include: Issues (impacts, adaptation, mitigation, inequity, communication); vulnerable populations and appropriate adaptations; organizational adaptation; and resources that are useful for organizations. The broad framework for each chapter will be: the current climate impacts requiring adaptation; the populations affected and their adaptation needs; the interventions relevant at the local level.

Rae Walker is an Emeritus Professor at La Trobe University, Melbourne. She has an extensive research and publication history, most of which is in relation to community-based organizations, how they operate and what they do.

Wendy Mason has widespread experience in service, project and partnership management in a range of health, social services and local government settings.