Planning for climate change adaptation is a new area for many councils, which lack their own specialist skills in-house. This means that they often rely on consultants, which result in councils failing to build their own capability.

Rockhampton Regional Council (RRC) recognised that it needed help to develop its climate risk management plan but also wanted to upskill its staff to embed climate considerations in its governance and decision-making approaches.

After receiving funding to implement phase 1 of the Climate Risk Management Framework for Queensland Local Government (CRMF), the council appointed an internal project facilitator and sought out a specialist consultant to provide advice and mentorship.

The result has been a successful partnership, building the project team’s skills and capability, which provides a model for other councils.

While RRC had previously considered the physical risk of climate change in terms of disaster management or infrastructure, considering climate risk from a governance perspective was something else.

With the support of Linden Climate Advisory’s climate risk management specialist Dorean Erhart, the council project team, led by project facilitator Camille Conway, gained confidence that they were heading in the right direction. Working closely with Erhart, they were able to evolve, learn and grow at their own pace, bringing the organisation along with them.

The mentoring and advisory arrangement provided value for the council by giving them access to the climate risk management expertise they needed over an extended period . This has been particularly beneficial given the different stages of the CRMF, with support ramping up or reducing depending on the stage of work being undertaken. Crucially, it means key learning and advice remain within the council and can be built on as the organisation progresses its climate response.

Coordinator Environmental Sustainability Rockhampton Regional Council, Christine Bell explains that: “This is a whole of council initiative that’s driving a significant change process to identify and manage climate-related risks across the organisation. The mentorship approach has given Camille the skills, knowledge and confidence she needed to help navigate a complex journey while delivering meaningful outcomes.

“Having both structure and flexibility in the arrangement has been really important. There have been times when we’ve had a range of project-related challenges. Being able to flag those and look at the options with someone who understands our context has been really helpful.

“It’s been a fantastic way to upskill ourselves and retain those skills and knowledge in-house. If we were going to embark on something new like this again, I’d definitely consider using this approach. Combining Camille’s skill set and experience with the technical and specialist skillsets Dorean could bring was a perfect match.”

Camille Conway, Project facilitator, Climate Resilient Rockhampton Region (CRRR), notes that: “This process wouldn’t have been as effective if I hadn’t been fortunate enough to find a mentor with whom I had an excellent rapport. Dorean’s understanding of climate risk management in the local government context has been absolutely key to the success of this project.

“You can attend training and conduct your own research but having a mentor available has been invaluable in helping to build confidence and find a path forward.”

This case study was prepared by NCCARF. Please cite as: NCCARF, 2024: Mentor helps build in-house capability for effective climate-risk management. Case study for CoastAdapt, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Griffith University, Gold Coast.