Multicultural Heat Heroes in Action
The Multicultural Heat Heroes in Action project (2023 – 2024) built of Enliven’s broader planetary health and climate resilience work. Funded by Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Enliven engaged local ‘Heat Heroes’ to work collaboratively with multicultural communities in Cardinia, Casey, and Greater Dandenong to build heatwave resilience through culturally inclusive engagement and education – boosting heatwave preparedness and wellbeing in communities most impacted by extreme heat.
The project
Multicultural Heat Heroes in Action project built on findings from Enliven’s 2021 Understanding Planetary Health Research Project, which highlighted a strong desire among multicultural communities in Melbourne’s South East to strengthen climate resilience. Heatwaves pose serious health risks, and research shows our multicultural and newly-arrived local communities are disproportionately affected by the rising incidence of extreme heat events. Adaptation to extreme heat is impacted by sociocultural and language barriers, isolation, low income, poor-quality housing, English-only resources, and pre-existing health issues. These factors exacerbate heatwave impacts and reduce coping capacity.
To address this, the project formed a coalition of five Heat Heroes, engaged and active community members from diverse backgrounds, who co-designed and delivered culturally responsive, place-based initiatives to enhance heatwave resilience in their local communities. Through community consultation, the team identified local barriers and enablers to heatwave resilience. These insights guided the development of tailored education activities and a sub-regional community event. The project contributes to Enliven’s broader planetary health and climate resilience work by empowering communities to adapt and thrive in a changing climate.
Key outcomes
5 Heat Heroes recruited and trained to become climate champions, conduct community consultation, and co-design and deliver culturally nuanced education sessions.
Consulted with 97 community members across 10 focus groups to identify local barriers and enablers to heatwave resilience
Co-produced Heat Health community education workshop to support heatwave preparedness and resilience strategies.
12 Heat Health community education workshops delivered to 323 people in 5 languages by trained Heat Heroes.
Be Well Stay Well in the Heat event attended by approximately 150 community members.
Be Well Stay Well in the Heat event attended by approximately 150 community members, supported by 12 stallholder including Ambulance Victoria, City of Casey, AfriAus iLEAC, Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre, Southeast Monash Legal Service, Victorian Council of Social Service, SEC Victoria, Wellsprings for Women, Emergency Management Team, Cardinia Shire, and Hampton Park CFA.
Our Joey and the Heatwave books were popular at the Be Well Stay Well in the Heat event.
Heat Health community education workshops
100% of workshop participants found the workshop content was relevant to them and increased their knowledge of heatwaves, and confidence to stay health in a heatwave.
“This presentation is very good for community members who don’t read English very well. The slides are easy to understand, the plain language is very good for them.”
Afri-Aus iLEAC workshop participant
“Whatever I learnt from this session I will use them for myself and others during heatwave”
North Dandenong Neighbourhood House – Afghan women’s group
Partners and acknowledgements
With thanks to our dedicated team of Heat Heroes Batool, Cecilia Rabecca, Golsum, Nurten (Kim), and Nyachan.
AfriAus iLEAC Inc.
NAS Recovery Centre
North Dandenong Neighbourhood House
Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre
Turkish Seniors Group Hallam
WHISE
This project was funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation