Addressing common myths and providing evidence-based guidance, the Kaldor Centre's newest toolkit helps legal practitioners and decision-makers in Australia navigate international protection claims in a changing climate.
A new Australian Toolkit on International Protection in the context of Climate Change and Disasters, released today, provides practical guidance for decision-makers and legal practitioners assessing international protection claims in which climate change and disasters play a role.
With climate-related impacts increasingly intersecting with displacement and protection needs, this toolkit provides evidence-based guidance to support consistent and informed decision-making in Australia.
Developed by the Kaldor Centre’s Professor Jane McAdam and Dr Tamara Wood, the Australian Toolkit shows how the adverse effects of climate change and disasters can be factored into refugee and complementary protection claims under Australian law.
Building on the global Practical Toolkit on International Protection for People Displaced across Borders in the context of Climate Change and Disasters, the Australian Toolkit:
‘The challenge is cutting through the myths and understanding the full picture of risk,’ says Professor McAdam, co-author of the toolkits and Director of the Kaldor Centre’s Evacuations Research Hub. ‘That’s exactly what this toolkit is designed to do.’
Co-author and Kaldor Centre Visitng Fellow Dr Wood says the resource translates broad international principles into practical guidance for Australian decision-makers:
‘The Australian Toolkit takes the broad principles articulated in the global Practical Toolkit and tailors them to Australia’s domestic legal context, providing a ready-to-use resource for decision-makers and practitioners.’
To mark the launch of the toolkit, the Kaldor Centre and the Australian Institute of Administrative Law (NSW) will host an online seminar on Wednesday 21 October.
Join the toolkit authors and leading practitioners as they discuss key challenges and opportunities in assessing international protection claims in Australia in a changing climate.
Explore the Australian and global toolkits and register for the seminar about the Australian guidance.
The original global Practical Toolkit and accompanying training modules, including videos, are now available in French and Spanish. These resources are helping expand access to practical, evidence-based guidance for decision-makers and practitioners around the world.
Read the global Practical Toolkit in Spanish and French and download the training materials.
Practical Toolkit training with the authors is back due to popular demand. We have added two additional training sessions (in English) on the global Practical Toolkit for 2026.
Check the dates and register your interest in our train-the-trainer sessions.
Visit the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law to learn more.