Hi Neighbour

$40,000 | September 2022

 
 

What do Hi Neighbour do?

Hi Neighbour is a community organisation utilising community-funded solar projects to finance training scholarships for locals to move to low-carbon jobs. Inspired by Indigenous systems thinkers like Tyson Yunkaporta, we are working for the social, economic and environmental health of Illawarra/Dharawal land - and the people who live here.

Why is this work important?

The community on Illawarra/Dharawal land has a long and proud history in coal and steel. Disrespecting this history is resulting in social dislocation and has been a barrier to support for decarbonisation.

If Hi Neighbour can inspire with an early round of story-changing worker case studies and mobilise to develop community-funded solar rooftop projects which finance scholarships for locals to train in Technical Low Carbon (TLC) jobs over the next 12 months, they can build support for, and action on, renewable energy solutions.

By doing so, Hi Neighbour will actively be reducing emissions in a fossil fuel centred community, and provide educational pathways for local workers, addressing the TLC skills shortage. The compelling business and individual examples that emerge from our plan will show the wider community what a positive transition looks like at a local level, establishing a national case study.

By reframing the transition to renewable energy as one grounded in economic prosperity and local jobs, Hi Neighbour can build support for a clean energy future and implement it at the same time. In taking a practical and inclusive approach they circumnavigate the gridlock that's held regional transition back for too long.

How is Groundswell supporting this work?

Over the next 12 months, Hi Neighbour aims to light up the Illawarra with a systems wide approach to decarbonising our local community and at the same time, provide a case study for others to do the same.

With Groundswell’s support they will:

  • Release our first round of scholarships for training in Technical Low Carbon jobs with a focus on retrofitting upskilling for electricians and plumbers to complement RA’s Electrify 2515 scheme. This first round of scholarships will precede our first solar rooftops to rapidly build local ambassadors and case studies, and to address critical skills shortages locally. We will identify candidates who want to move into TLC jobs, prioritising coal and steel workers, and First Nations people from the local region.

  • Host a Block Party to mobilise our local donor base. We are in conversation with local music festival Yours and Owls founder Ben Tillman to advise on hosting a vibrant and inclusive launch party to activate a local giving base to generate wealth into our TLC scholarship fund & officially launch Hi Neighbour into the Australian landscape as a model for organising local change.

  • Commence installation of our debut solar rooftop working directly with local businesses to ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are accessible while uniting our community, reducing emissions and powering future scholarships.

  • Grow a more rich online presence by producing and sharing local stories of TLC job transition, addressing surrounding concerns with frank practicality and kindness.

  • Navigate an official partnership with University of Wollongong and the Energy Futures Network supporting local talent in TLC training.

Grant update

In May 2023, Hi Neighbour partnered with Electrify Everything, giving out 10 x $2000 scholarships and 5 x scholarships for aspiring sparkies to train up in electrics and renewables installation, preference given to former coal workers. They also brought on their first business sponsor to solar their rooftop and worked with Buckaroo warehouse who provide leather goods to tradies, based in Bellambi.

To learn more about Hi Neighbour’s impact, read our interview with founder Yael Stone.