Adapting to Extreme Weather Events: Perceptions, Practices and Support Needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities.

Climate change-related extreme weather events are a growing public health threat that exacerbates health inequities. While previous sociological analyses have pointed to the social patterning of climate change, there has been little research exploring how individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities think, feel and act in preparation for, or response to, extreme weather events. Our research explored this in two phases. Phase 1 examined the perceptions, practices and support needs of CALD communities in Melbourne, Australia, in the face of extreme weather events. A mix of qualitative methods were used. Spoken methods included small group discussions and individual interviews. Where possible, these were supplemented by visual and creative methods such as drawing, poetry, storytelling and walking interview. A community exhibition was then held to share the findings with participants, stakeholders and the broader community. Our findings indicated that: First, past experiences have a substantial impact on current perceptions and practices. Second, there are differences between and within CALD communities in terms of the living, social and health effects of extreme weather events. Third, support needs are complex and require community-level connection and support. In Phase 2, interviews were conducted with key informants from local governments and community-based organisations across Melbourne. We explored how extreme weather mitigation strategies are designed and implemented, and how CALD communities are involved in these processes. Our findings contribute sociological knowledge on the impact of climate-related extreme weather events on individuals from CALD communities and the factors that contribute to successful collaboration between communities, local governments and community-based organisations to meet support needs and promote community resilience.