PROBLEM

Over the last few years, temperatures have been increasing rapidly in Australia and Victoria, as climate change contributes significantly to extreme weather events. This also increases the risk of extreme heat events. Older people, including those with multiple health conditions, may experience negative effects of extreme heat due to physiological and social factors. Important risk factors for older people include age, pre-existing medical conditions, chronic mental disorders, social isolation, low-economic status, homelessness and engagement in in strenuous outdoor activities.

WHAT ARE COOLING CENTRES?

Cooling centres are designated refuges for people to attend during extreme heat events, and include facilities such as local community centres, shopping centres, public pools, and libraries.

THE GAP

Cooling centres have been recommended in combating the adverse health and mortality effects during heatwaves, particularly for older people and vulnerable people who do not have air-conditioning at home. However, there is very little known about the enablers and barriers to the use of cooling centres for older people and how they can be scaled up on a broader level in the Victorian and Australian setting. This project will directly address this gap in knowledge and implementation of cooling centres.

AIM

This project aims to investigate the use and perceptions of cooling centres (air-conditioned facilities e.g. libraries, community centres, cinemas) for older Victorians, and explore how older Victorians perceive health-related effects of heatwaves.

FUNDING

This project is funded by the Lord Majors Charitable Foundation.

ETHICS

This project has human research ethics approval from The University of Melbourne (Project ID Number: 30014).

COLLABORATORS

For any questions, please contact the project team: [email protected]