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Collie Emergency Shelter: A safe space for all community members

2 Jun 2026 13:14 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

A poster style image advertising a Safe Space for community members in Collie WA. There is a photograph of a building, with a number of overlaid text boxes. The text boxes use a deep blue, green and orange colours. The text boxes say: "Severe weather event in WA", "48 HOURS", "Homeless and rough sleepers welcome", "into a safe space", " A safe place. A roof. 48 hours of shelter.", "Open 48 hours from Lunchtime Sat 30 May, to Lunchtime Mon 1 June","Entry from the main road side" (this one has an arrow to indicate the entry, on the building photograph). At the bottom there is more information included as follows: "COLLLIE WA, OLD TARGET SHOP, 85-89 STEERE ST, COLLIE", "Access into a large building out of the weather in the old target shop, kindly donated by a caring community.", "No Grog, No Drugs", "No Aggression, No Violence", "Respect Everyone", "A Safe Place For Everyone". A final line says "Need help or more info? We're here for you. 0406 722 066. Be kind. Be respectful. Look out for each other".

The Collie community has done something exceptional this weekend.

We started taking action at 5.10pm Friday evening.

Within 6 hours a venue had been offered, a volunteer roster created, posters drafted and relevant authorities informed. We sought no permissions, but informed relevant people and ensured the space would not be closed down.

By 10.30am on Saturday, Climate Justice Union (CJU) member Kiera was in the venue getting a handover from the owner. Another CJU member, Jayla, was connecting with people sleeping rough. Other CJU members and contacts were recruiting volunteers.

Less than 2 hours later, the volunteer run Collie Emergency Shelter was set up and ready to go and people were out and about letting folks know the space was available. 

A photo of Brodie sitting on a couch in the Collie Emergency Shelter next to a surface that is set up with food and drink items. There are also lots of blankets in the image. Brodie is a smiling and welcoming person, and is wearing a flouro vest over a black hoodie and black pants. They have short hair and light skin.
This is Brodie, one of the first volunteers to assist at the Collie Emergency Shelter.

We are sharing this because it is amazing work, and shows what a community can do when it needs and wants to. ANY community can do this. ALL communities have these kinds of resources.

However, not all communities have the capability - yet.

For many years CJU members and staff have been working on disaster resilience - asking questions, improving our understanding of formal emergency response systems and building relationships. CJU members have been working on disaster preparedness and resilience together with other Collie locals for ~6years, building awareness, skills and relationships. 

This work has been led by people with a wide variety of lived experiences including homelessness, disability, addiction and marginalisation. 

There are some very specific and important enabling work happening in the background, which people may not see. We are documenting and will share what we have learned in the community, and host some events to share that experience with others who want to learn more.


Climate Justice Union is available to support, train and mentor folks in other communities, so they can be prepared to do what needs to be done in times of crisis. Please contact us for more info.

A poster style image with big text saying "This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY Space", followed by "No Grog", "No Drugs", "No Violence", "No Aggression", and a final line with the words "Thank you for helping keep this space safe for everyone."

We call this work "First and Last".

In 2024, Climate Justice Union received a grant from the National Emergency Management Agency to learn how to do this kind of thing - disaster preparedness at a grassroots community level. 

We know that poor folks, homeless people, disabled people, mob and the chronically ill are the first to feel harm in a crisis and the last ones left dealing with it's impacts after everyone has moved on. 

Unfortunately, our funded work in disaster resilience ends at the end of the year, however we know this work is desperately needed and many more of us in the community need these skills and knowledge.

If you wish to donate to our work please do so via our website (here), and if you have connections with funders please connect us.


Email:  admin@climatejusticeunion.org
Call: +61406722066

ABN: 23767498078

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We acknowledge that we begin our work as The Climate Justice Union on the Boodja (land) of the Wadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We honour the Wadjuk people and their kin in other Nations and Country across these lands and waters, who have always cared for this place and all who lived here.

We acknowledge First Nations Elders past and present, and acknowledge that those of us living here, who came from across the seas, live on land that was taken, stolen. We acknowledge the responsibility that comes with this understanding and that we personally and collectively benefit from this theft.

As such, we all have a responsibility to decolonise ourselves, our lives and work, and to heal the harm these oppressive systems have inflicted.

Click here to read our full acknowledgements

We are a community union and do not cover you in your workplace. All Climate Justice Union members are also encouraged to join the relevant industrial union. Click here to find your industrial Union.


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