• Charles Sturt University to host Implications of Climate Change for Regional Work and Organisation Resilience symposium in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 6 September

A Charles Sturt University group dedicated to exploring the physical, mental, emotional health and wellbeing of workers in regional Australia is hosting a climate change symposium in Wagga Wagga.

The University’s Regional Work and Organisational Resilience Sturt Group (RWOR) is hosting a series of symposia, starting with the Implications of Climate Change for Regional Work and Organisational Resilience.

The symposium will be a practical look at how climate is changing and the implications for the regions in relation to human wellbeing, organisations and communities, physical work and exercise and heat and stress.

Associate Professor in Geospatial Science in the Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment Associate Professor Andrew Hall will deliver the keynote address on ‘Climate change impacts on workability across regional Australia’.

He said to understand the environmental effect of climate change on health risks to outdoor workers, we must consider temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed.

“Wet-bulb globe temperature is a commonly used index that combines these measures to provide an indicator of the body’s ability to shed excess heat,” he said.

“Using commonly applied climate change scenarios to assess climate risk, we have found that by mid-century, wet-bulb globe temperature will likely cross thresholds that will restrict human physical activity for longer periods of the year across larger areas of Australia.

“Research to prepare us to be able to manage these potential future health risks needs to be a priority.”

Project Lead Associate Professor Larissa Bamberry (pictured) said the RWOR Group is eager to collaborate with regional employers to find solutions for these emerging complications.

“Regional labour markets have always experienced challenges in recruitment and retention of workers in key industries,” she said.

“With the additional impacts of rising temperatures and the changing frequency of droughts and floods, regional employers will need new strategies for managing workers’ wellbeing and building resilient organisations.”

Guest speakers at the symposium include a leading climatologist, thermal physiologists, social scientists, regional researchers and organisation representatives.

The speaker sessions will be followed by workshops and interactive panel sessions exploring research findings, current concerns and responses of industry, evolving strategies and approaches to support organisational and community resilience.

The symposium will be held on Tuesday 6 September from 9am to 5pm at the Charles Sturt Convention Centre, Building 230. This event will also be streamed online.

Registrations for the event can be made on the Eventbrite website.