We are grateful for the support from our federal member, Alison Byrnes MP, who has a unique understanding of the critical need to actively support local workers in local energy transformation. Alison is a regular attendee at our events and has fostered critical local relationships. We were grateful to be able to accompany Alison down to the coalface at Dendrobium for a powerful first hand experience.

We have worked closely with the ETU from the outset. Taking recommendations directly from Michael Wright, Ravin Marris, Sarah Brunton, Steward Edward, and Tara Koot.

We have consulted with Arthur Rorris from the South Coast Labour Council whose advice early on guided our approach to the way we talk about energy transformation with local workers.

We sat down with with Bob Timbs from the Mining and Energy Union and look forward to deepening the connection after our visit to the coal face at Dendrobium organised by Bob.

We have been working closely with TAFE and University of Wollongong (UOW) to foster excellence in future local training pathways. We have been active participants in the Community and Industry Reference group for TAFE in the development of the Energy Futures Skills Center at the invitation of Jo Haslam. We work with TAFE leaders like Adam West to make sure we are aligned on clean energy training pathways and providing responsive community feedback like requesting solar training be put back on spec for local TAFE.

We work closely with Ty Christopher at UOW to make sure we are at the crest of the wave where tertiary education is concerned in the clean energy space. More recently we have been in conversation with Erin Snape in Business Development at UOW to discuss taking our events on the road in partnership with UOW to get to the more southern regions to share training and career opportunities in clean energy. Beyond this we are seeking to develop research projects focus on our work with UOW PHD candidates, we are in conversation with Simon Moss.

We are proud to be at the beginning of a working relationship with Bluescope which seeks, in the long term, to see Hi Neighbour foster local talent for employment at Bluescope in the decarbonation of steel making. We are in conversation with Michael Reay, Amber Waldrom and Matthew McKenzie. Bluescope made a financial contribution as a show of good faith to support scholarship coordinator role for Women in Clean Energy

We have been in conversation with local innovators Green Gravity, Secona and Hysata about the skill and qualifications they are seeking as we seek to design scholarships fit for purpose.

In our solar work we have installed solar rooftops on local manufacturers Buckaroo and Thomas Creative, 200kW of clean energy that powers local jobs, manufacturing and in the case of Buckaroo a new electric fleet.

This video celebrates the benefits of our Community Solar Partnerships

From the outset Hi Neighbour has sought to build strong relationships and trust with the local First Nations community. Local Aboriginal leader and academic Catherine Moyle served on our inaugural board and is a strong advocate for our work. We have many valued and authentic relationships with local First Nations community members like AIME CEO Jack Manning Bancroft, artist Kirli Saunders, Dr Jodi Edwards, Tiffany Ireland and we are delighted to be announcing new board member and local cultural leader Layne Brown.

We aim to keep strong communication and connection with community action groups like Electrify 2515 and are in direct contact and have the support of Kate Minter and Saul Griffiths of Rewiring Australia. We are connected with the local interactions of Tomorrow Movement,The Knitting Nannas, Surfers for Climate, and Good For the Gong.

We have consulted with and have support of local climate expert Dr Tim Flannery who has particular investment and experience in coal worker job transformation. Local hero Dr Karl supports our work and directly contributed to our Learning From Locals campaign to support positive offshore wind farm submissions. Local climate communicator and strategist Claire O’rourke is a supporter and featured Hi Neighbour in her book Together We Can as an example of meaningful community lead action. Beyond the region renowned climate scientist Dr Lesley Hughes and climate focused social researcher Rebecca Huntley have supported the work from its inception.

Bulli High recently hosted Hi Neighbour volunteer Greg Knight to lead a sustainability workshop and we are currently seeking a connection with Dapto High.

Local musicians like Midnight Oils’s Jim Moginie, Bec Sandridge, Elana Stone and Lindsay McDougall have performed at our events. Multi award winning Alex the Astronaut supported our last event for Women in Clean Energy.