UnitingCare research says nine in 10 workers faced it in five years
Extreme weather is making it harder for community service workers to deliver care, with UnitingCare Australia reporting that nine in 10 workers have experienced it in the past five years.
The UnitingCare network found the events increased workloads, disrupted access to vulnerable people and took a growing toll on workers’ wellbeing.
Uniting will bring frontline community service workers to Federal Parliament at midday on 16 September 2026 as concern grows about a predicted “Super El Niño” summer, record-breaking heat and severe bushfire conditions.
Workers plan to argue that Australia should include the community services workforce in emergency planning because they support people during fires, floods and other extreme weather.
Australian Red Cross research released for EmergencyRedi Week found 72% of Australians believe communities must do more to prepare for and recover from emergencies.
Parliament event on 16 September 2026
The event is scheduled for Senate Committee Room 1S2 at Federal Parliament. The Government’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, Kate Thwaites MP, is sponsoring it.
UnitingCare Australia CEO Tamara Thomas will introduce frontline workers who are set to give first-hand accounts from the sector.
Those workers include Juliana Hoy, a Uniting local area co-ordinator, and Jo Garland, a Uniting early educator.
According to Uniting, they will describe support work for people with disability, young children and families during fires, floods and other weather emergencies.
Alice Salomon, Uniting NSW.ACT head of advocacy and media, is also listed to attend, alongside Thwaites and Thomas.
Uniting NSW.ACT says it contributes to the work of the Uniting Church in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory through social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care.
The organisation says it provides services across all ages and stages of life, which helps explain why it is focusing on how emergencies affect both workers and people who rely on care.
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