Developed by Griffith University and delivered in partnership with Climate Jobs, the nationally recognised Becoming Climate Ready micro-credential supports local government professionals to build the skills and confidence needed to respond to climate risk and strengthen organisational resilience.
The program forms part of Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon, which brings together interdisciplinary research, education and cross-sector collaboration to support effective and just climate action. Through a strategic partnership with Climate Jobs, the program is delivered and scaled to meet the needs of local government across Australia.
The partnership combines Griffith University’s recognised expertise in climate science, adaptation and resilience with Climate Jobs’ strong networks across local government and focus on workforce capability. Griffith University retains responsibility for academic integrity, course content, assessment and micro-credentialing, while Climate Jobs supports program promotion, participant engagement and operational coordination.
Becoming Climate Ready supports local government professionals to strengthen their understanding of climate risk, adaptation planning and resilience, and to apply this knowledge directly within their organisational context.
Designed specifically for local government executives, senior leaders and managers, this 10-week online micro-credential builds the knowledge and skills needed to manage climate risk and identify emerging opportunities.
With a commitment of just two hours per week, participants gain the confidence, tools and practical insight to guide their organisation’s transition to a net-zero and climate-resilient economy. The program combines self-paced learning with three interactive workshops, networking opportunities and live Q&A sessions with expert facilitators.
Local governments play a pivotal role in shaping prosperous, liveable and resilient communities. By proactively managing climate risk and embedding adaptation and mitigation into operations, councils can reduce exposure and unlock new opportunities for innovation and community wellbeing.
Join our upcoming cohort or register your interest for future intakes.
Together, we can shape a resilient, climate-ready future for organisations and communities across Australia.
All fees are per person and exclude GST. Group rates are for groups of 3 or more people from the same organisation. A small council group rate is available for councils with fewer than 300 employees in recognition of the limited capacity and resource constraints experienced by many smaller and regional councils.
The course is brought to you by Griffith’s Climate Action Beacon, delivered in partnership with Climate Jobs. This partnership combines Griffith University’s recognised expertise in climate science, adaptation and resilience with Climate Jobs’ strong networks across local government and focus on workforce capability.
The shared objective is to ensure that councils across Australia—including small and regional councils—can access high-quality, practical learning that builds long-term climate capability and strengthens organisational and community resilience.
Professor Brendan Mackey is Director of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University. Brendan has nationally and internationally recognized expertise in the fields of climate risk assessment, climate adaptation planning, and climate mitigation strategies. He was a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC 6th Assessment Report, and is a Review Editor for the IPCC 7th Assessment. He has a PhD in ecology from The Australian National University and has authored over 300 publications in the fields of climate science and policy.
Eleanor Ogston is Founder and CEO of Climate Jobs and Executive Director of Leading Roles. She is a sustainability and climate change professional with over 25 years of leadership experience across local government, consulting, and executive roles. Eleanor is the creator of Australia’s first local government Climate & Sustainability Capability Framework and leads initiatives that build workforce capability, leadership, and practical pathways for climate action. She holds a Master of Sustainable Systems from the University of Queensland and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Eleanor is also a Non-Executive Director of Green Cross Australia, supporting national efforts to build resilience and accelerate evidence-based action across communities, organisations, and government.
The program includes three facilitated online workshops, delivered by climate resilience experts with real-world experience drawn from academia, industry and local government. Facilitators will be advised at the beginning of each cohort.
Dr Wade Hadwen is an ecologist with over 25 years of experience exploring how natural resources are used, valued, impacted and managed. He has experience and skills in projects in Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific exploring the ecology of aquatic ecosystems, water resource management, sustainable tourism and climate change adaptation. Wade is a passionate and dedicated educator and has contributed to teaching at Griffith University since 2005, designing and delivering shorts courses along with postgraduate and undergraduate courses focusing on environmental science, climate change and sustainability.
Tracey Stinson is an accomplished executive, board director and facilitator. She has held executive positions within local government and the renewable energy sector and now runs her own management consulting business. Tracey has a proven ability to respectfully challenge the status quo and assist organisations and teams to realign their strategic direction to plan for and manage strategic risks and opportunities, particularly those associated with climate change. She has an MBA, a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution, a Bachelor of Economics and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Edward Morgan is a transdisciplinary Research Fellow at Griffith University. He is a highly skilled and experienced interdisciplinary researcher and facilitator focused on pragmatic solutions to addressing environmental, climate change and sustainable development problems through collaborative and systems-based approaches. He focuses on turning knowledge into action in support of climate change action and sustainable development. He is a member of the Griffith Business School, the Climate Action Beacon, and knowledge translation and impact research lead at the Griffith Institute for Human and Environmental Resilience.
Participants will gain a clearer understanding of climate impacts, risk types, adaptation pathways and how to embed climate considerations into everyday decision-making.
In this program you will learn the context, tools, and insights needed to assess organisational readiness, identify climate-related risks and opportunities, and enable effective, efficient and well-governed climate risk management.
Participants will develop the capability to:
The course will consist of 8 modules in total. Please find below the topics that will be covered.
Executives, senior leaders, and managers of local councils across all service areas. This program is tailored for all service areas, including those working in service delivery, corporate strategy and finance, risk and disaster management, community and economic development, and sustainability and climate change.
Participants will earn a digital badge issued from Griffith University upon completion of the course, which can be shared across various online platforms so you can showcase your demonstrated skills and achievements.
The course runs over 10 weeks and is entirely online, combining:
The specific dates for the workshops will be confirmed once registrations open.
Join an upcoming cohort or register your interest today.
