JRS Australia Welcomes Pacific Climate Fellows from Tuvalu and Kiribati 

On Tuesday, 5 November, JRS Australia had the privilege of hosting the Edmund Rice Centre’s Pacific Climate Fellows at our Parramatta office.  

The Fellows, who travelled from Kiribati and Tuvalu, shared invaluable insights on the pressing issues facing their communities in the Pacific.  

The critical need for increased funding and targeted support for climate resilience and adaptation measures were central messages, as the Fellows highlighted the urgent need for solutions that allow Pacific communities to remain and thrive on their own lands. 

As an organisation committed to supporting migrants in vulnerable situations, the human and cultural impact of mass climate displacement is at the forefront of our minds – and an emerging area of our work.  

We know that migration is often the option of last resort for affected communities, and we recognise the importance of prioritising solutions that respect, uplift and implement the expertise of those who know best: the people with lived experience of climate threats.

We are so grateful that the Fellows made time for us, helping us to learn more about climate justice, the need to centre First Nations voices and protect traditional knowledge, and our role as Australians in demanding better climate action from our government.   

We were also inspired by the Fellows’ advocacy and compassion for the people we serve, as we discussed some of the key concerns affecting refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.

We discussed the particular impacts on women seeking asylum and people with disabilities, who represent demographics that are made especially vulnerable by both climate change, and Australia’s unjust asylum processes.

Following the visit, our Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communications Amelia Savage reflected on the importance of solidarity as we face these interconnected challenges together.

“This visit deepened our understanding of how we, as Australians, can meaningfully advocate alongside our Pacific friends and neighbours,” Amelia shared.  

We hope you will join us and call on our government to increase support for our friends and neighbours in the Pacific who are living at the forefront of the climate crisis.  

For anyone interested in hearing directly from the Pacific Climate Fellows and learning more about how to support them, Rotary South Pacific is hosting a special evening webinar on Thursday, 21 November.  

This online event will provide an opportunity to engage directly with the Fellows and deepen our collective commitment to climate justice for the Pacific. Please RSVP here.

JRS Australia extends its sincere gratitude to Rosaline Parker from the Edmund Rice Centre, and to our Employment Manager Tamana Mirzada, for coordinating this visit, and to each of the Pacific Climate Fellows for your expertise and advocacy.