Whittlesea Climate Action Network (WCAN)

In 2024, Whittlesea Community Connections and Mernda Neighbourhood House initiated a local community climate resilience project with an important question:

Through conversations and local engagement, a group of community members from diverse backgrounds came together to share their thoughts, values, concerns, and hopes. Those early discussions laid the foundation for the Whittlesea Climate Action Network (WCAN), a community-led group focused on learning, connection, and local responses to climate change.

WCAN was formally established in December 2024 and continues to meet regularly.

Purpose:

• Promote understanding of climate change and its local impacts
  
• Raise awareness across the community through dialogue and engagement
  
• Support climate-ready activities that build long-term community resilience
  
• Encourage action and advocacy that protects our environment and future
  

A Whittlesea community that is informed, prepared, and works together to reduce the impacts of climate change now and for the future so the whole of our ecosystems can be happy and healthy.

Our Goal:

• Awareness – Sharing values, knowledge and perspectives about climate change and its local impacts
  
• Education – Learning together through group dialogue, activities, workshops, inter-exchange
  
• Connecting with Community –Strengthening local relationships and understanding what matters to people across the diverse community
  
• Action – Taking practical and meaningful steps that support a more resilient community
  

Some of WCAN’s current areas of focus include:

• Community conversations – Understanding what climate resilience means through focus groups, casual meetups, resilience mapping and listening
  
• Community group engagement – Reaching out to the local community to understand their perspectives and build trusted relationships
  
• Event participation – Attending local events to raise awareness and connect with the broader community
  
• Responding to local concerns – Reflecting community-raised issues through advocacy or shared action
  
• Laying the Foundation for a Future Community Climate Action Plan: As we continue to listen, learn, and engage with the community, we aim to develop a plan that gradually reflects local voices, needs, and priorities.
  
• Collaborating with local groups and organisations: Working together with local community groups, community organisations, and local initiatives to strengthen collective action and resilience.