What are you hearing from your environmental grantees about the impact of COVID-19 and the fires?

Sarah: We’re hearing that they are all significantly impacted. Most of our grantees already work with the most vulnerable cohorts of people and therefore the financial and social impacts have hit harder and faster.

A blended approach of support is needed: the first part is about capacity for these organisations to maintain their staff to deliver support services; the second is providing funds they can release to vulnerable people. Not all philanthropic trusts have that in their mandate but we’re fortunate enough to be able to do it and help these people support their family and maintain their housing.

We certainly haven’t seen the true impact yet – it’s just starting to come through in the conversations I’m having now, with many organisations worried about surviving through to 2021.

Rebecca: Most of our environmental grantees aren’t funded by government, and many are waiting to see what the end of financial year fundraising season looks like. Quite a few are predicting the money won’t be there from regular donors or members and a lot of the public engagement work they’d usually do can’t proceed.

In terms of the fires, we’ve been talking with two organisations in East Gippsland and both are concerned that the fires have been eclipsed by COVID-19 so we’re doing all we can to reassure them that we’re still committed to supporting them.

The bushfire recovery period is not fully known yet because of the extent of the fire damage and we’re hearing forecasts about what repeat burns and climate change adds to that in the longer term which is also quite significant.

Sarah: It’s going to be really important that we use the opportunity that’s in front of us to advocate. We need a cohesive voice and approach to state and federal governments because that’s where the rubber hits the road. Finding cohesion is sometimes difficult in the environmental space which is often quite disparate with many organisations made up of volunteers and community members.  

I think one thing we can all do is tell the story and tell the story better to activate or motivate or educate others, otherwise people won’t understand what needs to be done.

Making the most of our socially-distanced situation, do you have a book or movie you’d recommend to other AEGN members?

Sarah: I’ve found it useful to not read academic books so much at the moment – I’ve really needed to escape with a book that’s very visual, so my recommendation is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The book is so beautifully written in the way it describes nature and visually, in your mind’s eye, you’re taken to the most beautiful, extraordinary place.

I’ve moved on now to The Dry by Jane Harper which is an Australian book about drought. I tend to like books that create big, wide landscapes for me.

Rebecca: Unfortunately, I haven’t been reading as much as I’d like to. What I have managed to read is New Philosopher magazine which I subscribe to. I find consolation in philosophy in all aspects of life and the last issue was about family which was fitting for right now and was actually helpful. I find the articles are digestible, in plain language and related to life.

The pandemic has impacted how we live, work and interact with each other. What’s one thing you hope we’ll do differently on the other side of COVID-19?

Rebecca: I think there’s something about kindness and caring and that stretches to the environment. I live in the city, near Merri Creek, and there are so many people out in parks that I hope people will continue to see the value of green spaces and places in relation to life and wellbeing.

Sarah: For me, I hope it’s a sense of calmness. I live in the country, so I hope people look up more into the trees and the sky and listen a lot more to the world and the bush without headphones in.