Young rural Australians share climate disaster experiences through art

In 2019–2020, Australia experienced a severe series of bushfires known as the Black Summer Bushfires. Several regional areas of NSW were significantly affected, with loss of life, homes, businesses and livestock, as well as billions of wild animals and vast tracts of native forest lost.

Dr Rachael Fox and Associate Professor Andrew McGrath, from the School of Psychology at Charles Sturt University, conducted action research with young rural people aged 12–24 who were directly affected by these fires to produce art responding to their experiences. In the Snowy Valleys and Bega Valley, the work – run in collaboration with local artists and funded by the NSW Department of Regional NSW and Charles Sturt – culminated in powerful exhibitions and published art booklets.

The project sparked valuable conversations across the community about the needs and experiences of rural young Australians during climate disasters. It was also featured in radio and news media and was formally acknowledged in the NSW State Parliament.