On February 4th 2026, we marked the second Extreme Heat Awareness Day. It was the biggest ever national action on heat in Australia, and it happened because of people like you.
Launched by Sweltering Cities and the Australian Red Cross, Extreme Heat Awareness Day brings people together for a powerful national conversation about the growing impacts of extreme heat. This year the Australian Medical Association, Australian Local Government Association, and Australian Council of Trade Unions were key partners.
We saw actions take place across the continent. From Parliament House, to pop-up community stalls, national media coverage, thousands of people sharing information, events in Cairns, Perth, and Townsville, as well as one of our largest community events so far in western Sydney!
Thank you so much for being part in making this day of action a success. Keep reading for a run-down on how it all went!
Hot City Cool People
Over 150 people came together in Parramatta Town Hall to take action on creating heat-safe communities for all!
We heard Winnie Dunn speak about the power of storytelling, a Fijian choir had the whole room clapping, and we listened to an incredible discussion from our panelists: Nicola Barr, Dr Cybele Day, Dr Michael Bonning, Tom Green, and Tracey Greenway.
You can have a look at what was covered in our keynote & panel in these illustrations by Jess Harwood!
Thank you to everyone who came along, our amazing volunteers, and our partners, Dr Kim Loo alongside the Hills Doctors Association and Avant, as well as the Australian Red Cross, Sydney Alliance, Frontrunners and the Anti-Poverty Centre, for making this event possible.
This was not the only Extreme Heat Awareness Day event in Sydney! The Red Cross hosted pop-up community heat safety stalls in places like Blacktown, Bankstown and Martin Place, and the City of Ryde held its own Heat-Safe Ryde event.
Watch our Webinar
170 people tuned in to our Extreme Heat Awareness Day webinar on why Australia needs a heatwave plan! We were joined in discussion by Jon Swain, Manager of Homelessness at the City of Sydney, Dr Susan Heatley from the School of Public Health at Adelaide University, and Eilish Maguire from Australian Red Cross.
You can watch a recording of it here!
In the news
Extreme Heat Awareness Day sparked nationwide media coverage. Sweltering Cities was on radio throughout the week, our partners in Cairns had their event featured in the Cairns Post, the ACTU spoke to media to push for stronger heat protection for tradies, and the Climate Justice Alliance was featured on ABC News, calling for stronger action on extreme heat in the Northern Territory.
Taking heat to Parliament House
Our Executive Director, Emma, and Director of Campaigns, Farah joined the Australian Red Cross in meeting with Federal MPs, including Allegra Spender, Susan Templeman, Dr Mike Freelander, Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, and Mark Dreyfus.
In our meetings with MPs, we pushed for stronger support for community-led disaster resilience and energy-efficient, heat safe housing.
Our first Cool Walk in Perth!
Our campaigners in Western Australia, Nat and Anna, ran their first Cool Walk in Fremantle to mark Extreme Heat Awareness Day! Fourteen people came along to discuss how well local features such as bus stops, housing and playgrounds support safe movement during extreme heat.
Friends of the Earth Stall
In Melbourne, Friends of the Earth hosted a community heat stall with crafts and activities. A huge thank you to all the organisations who took part in Extreme Heat Awareness Day by sharing information and running their own events!
Heat Ambassadors
Our Extreme Heat Awareness Day ambassadors shared important messages about how heat impacts their communities. Our ambassadors this year were AFLW Player Nicola Barr, Anti Poverty Centre Convenor Mel Fisher, Author Winnie Dunn, and the Central Land Council.
Watch this video from the Central Land Council on the risks of power disconnection and unsafe housing design for remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia.
Thank you again for all your support in making this year’s Extreme Heat Awareness Day a success!
