Just Change is a not for profit organisation founded by six friends in Victoria who saw a gap in the current approach to energy efficiency and climate change action in Australia. We seek to fill that gap through an innovative program that gives renters, property managers and landlords the tools they need to access the many energy efficiency schemes available in Victoria.
Just Change is currently running a pilot to retro fit ten low-income private rental properties in Victoria with the support of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria and Sustainability Victoria. We will report on the lessons of this pilot in early 2009. For coverage of our program, see this article in the Age.
What we add
Consent
Just Change overcomes legal barriers by providing standardised consent forms for retrofits and approaching owners and real estate agents on behalf of the tenant to obtain consent.
Co-ordination
Just Change reduces the hassle factor by coordinating the different aspects of the energy efficiency installation and delivery process in partnership with accredited providers.
Cash
Just Change overcomes the financial barrier by obtaining free or subsidised products such as compact fluorescent lightglobes and water efficient shower heads in partnership with Sustainability Victoria. We also source rebates and additional funding based on tenant eligibility. Our goal is to provide the benefits of energy efficient installations at little or no cost.
Our purpose
- promote equity through energy efficiency
- assist disadvantaged groups adapt to climate change
- ensure abatement of greenhouse gas emissions
- generate and distribute energy efficiency related resources and reference materials
- assist and cooperate with other organisations with a view to providing complementary services to achieve the above.
Our Board
Roland
Roland believes that social equity is the most challenging and important part of formulating a successful response to climate change. A former lawyer, Roland works for the Victorian Government in climate change change policy. Roland is also Chair of the Community Issues Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria and coordinates the Law Institute Journal’s regular column on sustainability in the law, “Green Practice”.
Kathryn
Kathryn is a PhD scholar exploring the health impacts of climate change, particularly within vulnerable communities. Kathryn comes from almost a decade working in public health, both in Australia and overseas, and as part of Just Change, hopes to highlight the importance of energy efficiency as a health equity concern.
Kati 
Kati is interested in practices that are good for people and the environment, and is inspired by innovative sustainability solutions led by communities and organisations. Currently Kati works with Victorian local governments to support the purchasing of green goods and services. She has a background in environmental monitoring and reporting for the New Zealand Government.
Michaela 
Michaela coordinates residential sustainability programs and is passionate about empowering people to make environmentally responsible choices. Michaela has previously worked in active transport, sustainable restaurant practices, health promotion and community development.
Dougal 
Dougal is passionate about the low cost, rapid and mass scale opportunities that energy efficiency offer to equitable emissions reduction, and the important role that Just Change can play in delivering this opportunity. Dougal has 6 years expertise in the Federal Government focusing on transnational resource and environmental issues, and has degrees from the University of Melbourne, Georgetown University and the Australian National University.
Bonnie 
Bonnie’s work and studies have focused on both social equity and environmental protection, and the often interconnected relationship between the two. She is about to begin her Honours Degree in Geography and Environmental Science and currently works in community and youth development.
Contact Just Change at justchangeorg@gmail.com