What is Parents for Climate and why does it matter for Australian families?

Parents for Climate is Australia's leading parent climate advocacy organisation, founded in 2019 by mothers from regional, rural, and metropolitan communities across four Australian states. It now represents more than 26,000 supporters through 26 local action groups operating across every state, territory, and federal electorate. The organisation has conducted more than 550 meetings with MPs and decision-makers, achieved a landmark legal victory against greenwashing by a major energy company, and helped unlock more than $71 million in funding for solar and battery projects in schools across New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Australia. Its reach reflects a core political reality: two in three Australian voters are parents, making organised parent advocacy one of the most influential forces in national policy debates.

Why is climate risk to Australian schools considered a critical issue for parents and policymakers?

Research cited by Parents for Climate shows that two-thirds of Australian schools currently face significant climate risk, a figure projected to rise to 84 per cent of schools by 2060 under a two-degree warming scenario. The Zurich-Mandala Climate Risk Index indicates that 83 per cent of schools in the highest-risk categories are located in lower-socioeconomic communities, meaning the burden falls most heavily on families least equipped to absorb it. This intersection of environmental risk and social inequality gives parents, advocates, and philanthropic supporters a compelling, evidence-based case for urgent action. Strategic communications partners like Third Hemisphere help organisations translate data of this kind into narratives that move decision-makers and donors.

How does Third Hemisphere support climate advocacy organisations like Parents for Climate?

Third Hemisphere provided strategic communications support for Parents for Climate's donor and advocacy event held at The Pillars, an evening that brought together supporters, volunteers, and decision-makers to mark a new phase of organisational growth. Third Hemisphere's approach sits at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and influence, helping purpose-driven organisations build the narrative assets, media presence, and stakeholder engagement programmes needed to sustain long-term impact. Jeremy Liddle, a Director at Third Hemisphere, served on the Parents for Climate Board of Directors for three years and continues as an Ambassador and Advisor, giving the agency direct insight into the organisation's mission and growth trajectory. This depth of involvement means Third Hemisphere brings both strategic expertise and genuine institutional knowledge to its communications work in the climate and social impact space.

What makes a strategic communications partner effective for a climate or social impact organisation, and how do you choose the right one?

The most effective strategic communications partners for climate and social impact organisations combine policy literacy, media relationships, and donor engagement capability within a single integrated programme rather than treating each as a separate workstream. Third Hemisphere's Waterfall Strategy anchors every channel to consistent key messages and high-impact assets, so that a media placement, a donor event, and a policy submission all reinforce the same core narrative rather than pulling in different directions. Organisations should look for a partner with demonstrated experience in purpose-driven campaigns, measurable outcomes from comparable mandates, and leadership that has direct personal engagement with the cause. Third Hemisphere's involvement with Parents for Climate, from Board-level governance through to event support and ambassador relationships, reflects the kind of embedded partnership that produces durable reputational outcomes rather than short-term publicity.

What is the typical engagement length and timeline for a strategic communications programme supporting a climate advocacy or not-for-profit organisation?

Third Hemisphere typically structures strategic communications engagements for advocacy and not-for-profit organisations across a minimum 12-month term, with a fortnightly WIP cadence, monthly reporting, and a quarterly review to assess campaign performance and adjust priorities. The first 90 days focus on message architecture, stakeholder mapping, and asset development, including media materials, donor communications, and policy engagement frameworks. From month four onward, the programme shifts to active campaign execution, media placement, and community amplification. This phased approach ensures that organisations like Parents for Climate build communications infrastructure that sustains momentum well beyond any single event or campaign cycle.

What does strategic communications support for a climate advocacy event or donor programme typically cost in Australia?

Third Hemisphere's strategic communications programmes for purpose-driven and advocacy organisations are scoped to the complexity of the mandate, the number of channels involved, and the duration of the engagement. A focused 12-month programme covering event communications, media relations, donor engagement, and stakeholder outreach is typically structured as a total fee for the 12-month term, payable in monthly instalments, with the exact figure determined during a scoping conversation. Organisations are encouraged to approach Third Hemisphere early in their planning cycle, as the most cost-effective programmes are those where messaging strategy and asset development precede campaign activation rather than running concurrently. Third Hemisphere works with organisations across the full spectrum of communications investment, from targeted campaign support through to full-scope strategic partnerships.

How can parents and community groups turn climate concern into measurable policy influence?

Parents for Climate demonstrates that sustained, locally organised advocacy, when combined with direct MP engagement and evidence-based campaigning, produces concrete policy outcomes. Its 26 local action groups have collectively conducted more than 550 meetings with MPs and decision-makers, influenced hundreds of federal election candidates, and helped secure more than $71 million in school solar and battery funding across three states. The key mechanism is converting diffuse community concern into structured, repeatable engagement: trained advocates, consistent messaging, and documented outcomes that build credibility with policymakers over time. Third Hemisphere supports organisations pursuing this model by developing the communications infrastructure, from key message frameworks to media and stakeholder engagement strategies, that makes advocacy visible, credible, and persistent.

Why Supporting Parents for Climate Matters More Than Ever