In the wake of the devastating December 2023 floods, CAFNEC has been working closely with flood-affected communities across Far North Queensland to document their experiences and identify pathways for future resilience.

The Flood Stories & Future Solutions report brings together voices from impacted residents, disaster recovery workers, and local experts, highlighting the impacts of the flooding and the solutions identified through our Table Talks Project. This report provides critical insights into how we can better plan for, and respond to, future disasters, ensuring that local knowledge and lived experience are at the heart of decision-making.

Download the report and discover the community-driven solutions shaping our region’s future.

This event has now passed. Join us for the launch of our Table Talks Report that captures the stories and insights of 45 community members from affected areas, and discusses potential solutions to enhance community resilience. 

Local experts and community leaders will share their insights into the causes of the flooding and the implications for future planning. The event will include opportunities for attendees to engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute ideas for future planning and disaster preparedness. Candidates for Barron River in the upcoming Queensland election have been invited to listen and respond to concerns raised by the community. 

If you don’t see a Table Talk for you, but want to express interest in participating in the project, please contact us at climateaction@nullcafnec.org.au.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Understanding the realities of climate change in our regional area is necessary for solving the complex issues that our communities face. We aim to build community resilience by ensuring our advocacy is bound in the stories and experiences of those on the frontlines of climate change in our region.

We will do this by facilitating focus group conversations (Table Talks) with people in our community that are vulnerable to extreme heat, flooding, cyclones, and other hazards, as well as those who lead recovery efforts and work to build community resilience. 

Find further details and FAQs in the Participant Info Pack.

WHAT ARE TABLE TALKS?

Our Table Talks are facilitated by passionate volunteers that have received training to guide inclusive and productive conversations with prompts that encourage participants to share their own experiences of heat and hazards in FNQ.

Each Table Talk includes 8 participants that will share stories over tea, coffee, and snacks for a duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes. We are hosting 10 Table Talks between June and July 2024, so spaces are limited. 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The next stage of the project is to collate our learnings from Table Talk participants’ stories into a comprehensive report that tells the story of climate change in FNQ, and what solutions are needed to mitigate the most widely-felt impacts.