Increasing heat across Australia, combined with ongoing cost–of–living pressures, is affecting many households and communities.
Planning ahead — both individually and collectively — can help reduce the risks associated with extreme heat and improve community resilience.
Although this summer has begun relatively mildly in East Gippsland, recent years have demonstrated how prolonged periods of hot weather can place significant strain on people, infrastructure and services.
Preparing for future heatwaves is therefore essential to protect vulnerable individuals.
HEAT IMPACTS AND
COST OF LIVING
Each year, the national advocacy organisation Sweltering Cities conducts a Summer Survey examining how extreme heat affects people in their homes and communities.
The 2024 Summer Survey, which gathered responses from across Australia, highlights the growing intersection between extreme heat and cost–of–living pressures.
Key findings from the 2024 survey include:
– 68 per cent of respondents reported feeling unwell on hot days or during heatwaves.
– The impacts were significantly higher among people with additional vulnerabilities, including 85 per cent of respondents with a chronic illness and 90 per cent of respondents with a disability reporting feeling unwell in the heat.
– Common heat–related health impacts included exhaustion, physical discomfort, restricted daily activities, sleep disruption, tiredness, headaches and irritability.
– 78 per cent of respondents reported having access to air conditioning; however, 65 per cent of those said concerns about energy costs prevent them from using it. This represents the highest level of cost–related restraint reported across the Summer Surveys to date.
– 61 per cent of respondents said rising costs — such as food, energy, housing
and other essentials — make it harder for them or their family to cope during a heatwave.
Respondents frequently described difficulties cooling their homes, rising energy bills, financial stress and food insecurity during periods of extreme heat.
Many reported having to make difficult trade–offs between using cooling and paying for essential items.
RENTERS AND HOUSING QUALITY
The survey also highlighted that renters are disproportionately affected by extreme heat. More than half of renter respondents reported living in homes with low energy efficiency.
Renters were more likely to experience difficulty staying cool, to limit air–conditioner use due to cost concerns, and to report adverse health impacts during hot weather.
These findings are relevant to regional and rural communities as well as metropolitan areas, and underscore the importance of housing quality in protecting health during heatwaves.
WHAT CAN BE CHANGED?
Survey respondents were asked what changes could make homes, workplaces and local areas safer during extreme heat. Commonly suggested actions included:
– Increasing tree cover and urban greenery
– Improving home insulation, including minimum energy–efficiency standards for rental properties
– Installing or upgrading cooling systems in homes and workplaces
– Providing accessible cool spaces for vulnerable community members during heatwaves
– Using cooler road surfaces and pavements
– Expanding shaded areas and shelters at public transport stops
– Encouraging reflective or light–coloured roofing
– Improving access to drinking water, swimming pools and other cooling
amenities
– Offering financial incentives or subsidies for energy–efficient upgrades
– Strengthening urban planning regulations to prioritise shade and green space
– Reducing carbon emissions through cleaner energy sources
LOCAL FORUM: BEAT THE HEAT
A local community forum titled “Beat the Heat” is planned for Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5–6 pm at St Mary’s Parish Centre. This free event will feature a range of speakers sharing practical information on:
– Personal strategies to manage extreme heat
– Community initiatives that provide safe and cool spaces
– Ways to improve the thermal performance of homes
More information will be provided closer to the date. Everyone is welcome, and bookings will not be required.
