As hotter days become more common, Illawarra residents are being reminded that extreme heat can be deadly — especially for vulnerable people. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
As temperatures continue to soar, Illawarra residents are being urged to check on vulnerable neighbours and speak up about how heat is affecting their everyday lives.
The call comes as Healthy Cities Australia backs a national survey as part of Extreme Heat Awareness Day on 4 February.
Healthy Cities Australia (HCA) asthma coordinator Alexander Brown said extreme heat was already the leading cause of death from natural disasters in Australia.
“And it’s a growing problem in our city,” Alexander said.
“Healthy Cities is all about making cities healthier places by looking at things like the urban design, and the social and community infrastructure, so addressing extreme heat really fits in with our mission.”
While the Illawarra has been spared some of the worst recent heat events happening nationally, Alexander said it didn’t mean the Illawarra was immune.
“We have differentiation inside the city between our cooler suburbs with the ocean breezes versus the inland suburbs and a lot of the new developments out in West Dapto, which don’t have access to that ocean breeze,” he said.
“So we are still vulnerable to extreme heat.”
Alexander said heatwaves “really target inequality”, with the brunt felt by older people and those with pre‑existing medical conditions, especially people with heart disease and asthma.
“I work closely with Asthma Australia in my role here, and … whilst people might be aware that cold weather and wind with the pollens can be a trigger for people with asthma, we now have the scientific evidence and personal experience from people with asthma to show that extreme heat can also be a trigger,” he said.
“It might be dry heat or it might be more humidity – either way, it can exacerbate their condition.”
Alexander said last year was the hottest on record, beating the previous record holder 2024, which was the hottest year for nine years.
He said 2026 had already seen “very extreme days”, forcing community events and health programs to be reshaped at short notice to keep people out of the heat and safe.
“With climate change, the long-term pattern is very clear that we’re going to experience more and more hot days. Preparing for that is really important,” he said.
Alexander said the national community heat survey, run by advocacy group Sweltering Cities and supported by HCA, aimed to “take the pulse of the nation” on how Australians were coping.
He said the survey was particularly focused on elevating the voices of people who usually went unheard – such as renters in poorly insulated homes, parents of distressed young children, and those who couldn’t easily escape the heat or sleep at night.
Their responses will help Sweltering Cities, HCA and other partners to advocate with government to push for changes in housing standards, urban planning, green space and community resilience.
However, Alexander said beating the heat was not just about infrastructure, but about looking out for each other.
He said Australians’ cultural fondness for hot weather and spending time at the beach could often mask the real dangers for those in more vulnerable situations.
“The big message is that this is about a community response,” he said.
“Think about people in your community, neighbours, friends and family, who may need a little bit of assistance, and check in with them – make a plan to get through the hot days together.”
He said people could prepare by planning ahead for hot days, keeping cool at home and staying hydrated by drinking water, heading to libraries or shopping centres if unable to stay cool at home, and learning the signs of heat-related illnesses.
Gain health advice on coping with extreme heat via NSW Health’s Beat The Heat website, and complete the Sweltering Cities summer heat survey online.
