Our Islands Our Home

Groundswell support helped Our Islands Our Home grow the leadership of young Torres Strait Islanders through its Ailan Pawa program. The grant backed youth organising, advocacy and storytelling, helping young leaders campaign for climate adaptation, a transition away from fossil fuels and stronger Torres Strait Islander representation in national and global climate decisions.

This grant supported Our Islands, Our Home to take Torres Strait climate justice into national and international forums. The campaign made repeated trips to Canberra, supported Torres Strait delegates and young people to engage with decision-makers, and hosted the first Torres Strait-led side event at COP29. Continued advocacy also helped build momentum for a $77 million federal commitment to seawalls and climate resilience infrastructure across five Torres Strait islands.

This grant supported Our Islands, Our Home to strengthen grassroots climate organising in the Torres Strait, with a focus on Masig Island. The funding helped support a local Community Organiser role to advance a community-led renewable energy pilot, advocate for greater investment in seawalls and climate adaptation, and build momentum for Torres Strait Islander-led action against fossil fuel expansion. The work strengthened local leadership while connecting community priorities with state, federal and international climate advocacy.

This grant supported Our Islands, Our Home to grow its national movement for Torres Strait climate justice. Through the Weaving Our Stories tour, the campaign connected Torres Strait communities with people affected by fracking and mining elsewhere in Australia, reaching more than 1,000 people. The work also strengthened relationships with supporters, partners and decision-makers, while helping more Torres Strait young people build confidence and experience in climate advocacy.

This grant supported Our Islands, Our Home to strengthen Torres Strait Islander-led climate advocacy and build public support for protecting island homes from rising seas and worsening climate impacts. The campaign gathered tens of thousands of signatures behind the Torres Strait 8 and helped amplify their landmark human rights case, which resulted in a UN finding that Australia had violated its obligations to Torres Strait Islanders by failing to adequately address climate change.

This grant supported Our Islands, Our Home to mobilise Torres Strait Islander communities and build political pressure for stronger climate action ahead of the 2022 Federal election. Through the Ailan Pawa campaign, the team organised locally in Zenadth Kes and Cairns, elevated Torres Strait Islander voices through media and storytelling, and pushed candidates in Leichhardt to support climate adaptation, community-owned renewables and stronger national policy. The campaign also built relationships with key political leaders, grew national solidarity, and used major cultural platforms including Australian Fashion Week to bring Torres Strait climate justice to new audiences.