Blacktown City Council in collaboration with Sweltering Cities and the Australian Red Cross, hosted the first ever Heatwave Safe Communities Forum on 4^th February 2025

Submitted by: Yael Lang, Blacktown City Council

As part of Australia’s inaugural Extreme Heat Awareness Day, Blacktown City Council hosted the first ever Heatwave Safe Communities Forum on the 4^th February 2025 - in collaboration with Sweltering Cities and the Australian Red Cross.

The forum brought together a wide range of industry experts and community leaders – including Taskforce members – to raise awareness about the dangers posed by extreme heat and discuss potential solutions. Speakers included:

• Professor Ollie Jay – The University of Sydney
• Dr Kim Loo – NSW Health
• Leah Soccio and William Baini – Bureau of Meteorology
• Bec Jolly – The Energy Charter
• Anthony Baerwinkel – Endeavour Energy
• Julie Redhi – Blacktown City Council.

The forum was also an opportunity to discuss the wider implications of extreme heat on liveability, health and community well-being.

The event saw strong participation from community service organisations, local representatives, and concerned residents, all coming together to acknowledge the structural and systemic issues contributing to the complex challenges of extreme heat and discuss possible localised solutions.

The event strengthened partnerships and collaboration with community service organisations which will help to promote preparedness, share information, and reach socially isolated and vulnerable individuals at greater risk to extreme heat.

Blacktown City Council is committed to working closely with our communities to help make them safer and more resilient to ensure a sustainable future for our City.

Stay tuned for more events next summer!