Empowering women primary carers: Promoting heat resilient systems for families

Chief Investigator: Dr. Sarah Robertson

Improving responses and services for women and families when it’s hot

Extreme heat poses increasing risks to health and wellbeing as the climate warms, highlighting the need for robust heat-health promotion strategies. 

This project examines and maps the needs, impacts, and constraints faced by women with young children, as well as the opportunities to enhance their family’s health during heat events. Focusing on two areas in urban and regional Victoria, the project employs an intersectional feminist lens to analyse how geographic, environmental, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors intersect to influence thermal environments.

The findings will guide both immediate and long-term urban planning, as well as place-based strategies to advance heat-health promotion. By prioritising climate resilience for women with young children, the project aims to inform targeted heat-health initiatives, urban and social planning, and strategic interventions. Outcomes will include practical guidance for local government and healthcare providers to strengthen heat-health protection through enhanced service engagement, communications, and social infrastructure—such as the provision of cool spaces or designated heat refuges.

This project is funded by a VicHealth Impact Research Grant and partners with women’s health and local government resilience, emergency management and planning officers in Merri-bek (Melbourne) and Greater Bendigo: Merri-bek City Council, City of Greater Bendigo, and Women’s Health Loddon Mallee. 

• Merri-bek City Council
• City of Greater Bendigo
• Women’s Health Loddon Mallee