A Real Deal for Geelong: Community Listening Report for Climate Transition

After nine month listening process involving 248 residents we released a comprehensive reports outlining the kinds of needs and aspirations that community members need as we approached climate transition. This report outlines three pillars of change – including housing, cost of living and care.

Citation:

Wadawurrung Country, Fisher, S., Bennett, J., Tattersall, A., Tong, A., Moore, K., Ganley, E., Naiper, I., Jones, M., Mitchell, T. (2023)
“A Real Deal for Geelong: Community Listening Report for Climate Transition,” Sydney Policy Lab, The University of Sydney May 2023.

60 second summary

Inspired by the global Green New Deal, the Real Deal project is an unusual and diverse
alliance of faith, climate, union and community groups across Australia, supported by a
network of researchers convened by the University of Sydney’s Policy Lab. It comprises a
national coalition and place-based projects in Geelong, Gladstone and Western Sydney that
are united by common commitment to a community-led relationship between market, state
and civil society that works for people and the environment: a Real Deal.

This Community Report presents the findings of a six-month “Listening Campaign” on
Wadawurrung Country in Geelong, which brought hundreds of people together to learn
from past economic transitions and to discuss the potential and pitfalls of Geelong’s climate
transition. Three essential pillars of a Real Deal for Geelong were revealed: secure housing,
meaningful work and affordable living, and care and connection. There is widespread
understanding that existing shortcomings in all three areas are, and will continue to be,
exacerbated by the climate crisis.

Listening to Geelong’s communities revealed that the climate transition is not only about job
creation, but also about the ability to find and keep a good home, afford a decent quality of
life, and access care and connection through healthcare systems and community networks.
The three pillars of a Real Deal for Geelong–housing, work, and care–show a way forward for
Australia as it enters a period of climate transition.