In response to the extreme weather experienced this year, new training and funding opportunities have been set up all over Australia.

The National Skills Commission will approve a new qualification by the Australian Flexible Pavement Association in response to recent extreme weather events and the increased need for infrastructure projects and road repairs caused by them.

AfPA’s executive director of knowledge and partnerships, Tanja Conners, said: “Simply put, those who deliver the nation’s highest order roads should possess qualifications specific to this industry to ensure quality, safety, long-term durability, performance, and workforce sustainability."

Energy Consumers Australia has also released new grants to help with energy resilience, energy-efficient housing, and charging incentives for electric vehicles. These grants are a response to extreme weather events and changes in energy prices.

The (Em)powering Communities project, led by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, is one of four new collaboration or influence grants totalling $633,253.

The Climateworks Centre's household renovation pathways, the University of Queensland's research on EV charging price incentives, and the Sydney Community Forum's empowerment training for people from different cultures and languages all got grant funding.

Lynne Gallagher, the CEO, said that the theme of the most recent successful grant applications was consumer empowerment.

“Providing consumers with the essential knowledge they need to make informed decisions about how, when, and where they use energy, as well as the type of energy they use, is a critical part of ensuring a timely and equitable energy transition,” she said.

She said the grants support projects “that empower consumers while also targeting the key challenges affecting our community, such as resilience to extreme weather events that disrupt reliable and safe energy supply.

“Households and communities need to understand the potential risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities associated with extreme weather events and how to prepare for them. However, energy resilience planning is often disconnected from consumer experience.

“We need to better understand the lived experience of communities during and after extreme weather events, and the impacts of prolonged and major power outages to help Australian communities become more resilient.”

To better protect koalas in the greater Sydney area, the Sydney Koala Basin Network is holding a training day for members of the public on November 26 at the Rosemeadow Community hall.

WIRES and the Total Environment Centre set up the group to help koala advocates in the region work together better.

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Source: The Fifth Estate