The planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution) is having a profound impact on the mental health of young Australians. The impact of climate disasters, constant barrage of stories of ecological collapse across social media and the reality of an uncertain climate future is resulting in increased rates of climate anxiety, eco-distress and burnout.
Young people's mental health is especially at risk because they’re most aware of the impacts of climate change, will face these effects the longest, and while considered the key to our planet's future, often lack the power to make change.
ECOMIND is Australia's leading youth climate mental org. We are an independent charity that exists to help young Australians process their climate emotions, not only to support their mental health and well-being but also to clear the path for effective climate action.
We are doing this by working with climate mental health practitioners and young people to develop evidence-based programs, tools, resources and support networks to help young people care for themselves, each other and the planet.
The climate crisis is having a profound impact on the mental health, wellbeing & agency of young Aussies.
We give young Aussies the tools to sustainably care for themselves,
each other & the planet.
We care for the next generation
of sustainable minds.
We are launching Australia's first climate mental health certificate in April 2026, co-designed with young people and next-gen experts.
We will develop a 'Train the Carer' to train youth carers, teachers & peers to care for climate curious young people.
We provide spaces for radical
connection & communities.
We work with Psychology for a Safe Climate to deliver youth climate cafes, creating spaces where feelings, not fixes, come first.
We aim to build a national community of care by helping young Aussies lead climate cafes across Australia.
We imagine the future we want & make it a reality through advocacy, storytelling & collaboration.
We are bringing together youth and expert voices to create a national Youth Climate Mental Health Policy Agenda.
We will create campaigns that tackle the root causes (not just the symptoms) of the climate & mental health crises.
We are a group of passionate individuals who believe that the key to a sustainable climate future is building climate emotional resilience in young Australians now.
Georgia is a sustainability lawyer and consultant at Sydney-based climate change advisory group Pollination. After herself struggling with the enormity of the climate challenge facing the world, she founded ecomind to help young people take control of their climate emotions by channelling them into climate actions. When she is not actively seeking meaningful ways to have a climate impact, she re-energises through yoga, beach swims and deleting (and re-downloading) her social media.
Courtney is a mental health professional who specialises in youth engagement and primary prevention. After designing impactful programs at youth mental health charity, batyr, Courtney left with a desire to combine her passion for youth mental health with her love of the environment, which led her to ecomind. When she's not looking for new ways to tackle complex problems, Court can be found doing handstands (or trying to), cuddling her dog Bear and spending time with her loved ones.
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Isharah is a Political Science/Public Policy student with a background in grassroots activism across a number of policy areas. They are deeply passionate about helping young people recognise the value of their own emotions, perspectives and experiences, particularly in the context of climate justice and the broader polycrises, where diverse perspectives are needed to provide holistic solutions for a more equitable and sustainable future. When they’re not busy helping out on new initiatives to build a safe and inclusive community for all, Isharah can be found reading, getting lost in the mountains or spending time with their loved ones.
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Emily is a regenerative systems storyteller and environmental strategist passionate about weaving community, ecology and imagination. After leading Climate Action Week Sydney, she now guides narrative and engagement at Regen Sydney and serves as Science Director at the Youth Climate Policy Centre, helping shape youth perspectives in national and international climate policy. When she’s not facilitating conversations on climate and care, you’ll find her going on walks, talking to the magpies or sketching ideas for her next community project.
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Zali is in her final year studying law and international security, with a particular interest in intergenerational climate justice and policy. Since being involved in orangutan conservation as a young child, she has been driven by a desire to create a world where our relationship with the planet is one of reciprocity, respect and care. Having grown up deeply worried about the future of the environment, Zali resonates strongly with EcoMind’s dual focus on climate action and mental health – the two things she is most passionate about. Outside of study and advocacy, you’ll find Zali teaching her dog Apollo to skateboard, scrapbooking with her best friend or planning her next adventure!
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Ray Newland is the Founder of the Youth Climate Policy Centre, a youth-run think climate policy think tank. He is currently studying economics at Macquarie University and works in policy for the Electrical Trades Union. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music and hanging out with his two cats.
Arpana is a policy adviser working in energy regulation. She has experience across a range of climate and nature-related policy issues including a just transition, blue carbon, coastal resilience, sustainable finance and food systems. When she’s not thinking of ways to increase climate ambition through public policy, she scuba dives, wanders around contemporary art galleries and plays padel.
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Mackenna is a law & arts student who works in the climate advocacy space. She is deeply passionate about social justice and how climate intersects with wider socio-political issues, particularly intergenerational and intercontinental equity, and the impacts of climate inaction on youth mental health. When she’s not juggling study and work, Mackenna enjoys reading, journaling, and spending time with her friends and family.
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Imogen is an experienced youth advocate who currently works as a youth engagement specialist at UNICEF Australia, and is a former Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. While consulting young people Imogen discovered how climate and mental health were not only intersecting concerns, but unifying issues for young people around Australia. This led her to reflect on how climate change had already impacted her life, and how she hadn't been equipped to respond or understand its impacts. At ecomind she hopes to contribute personal and professional experience in youth engagement. When she's not talking to young people she's probably watching a musical, dancing around the house, or both.
Emma is the Director of the Climate Cares Centre and Mental Health Lead at the Institute of Global Health Innovation. The Climate Cares Centre works internationally across research, policy, education and intervention design to understand and drive action on the interconnections between the health of the climate and our minds. Emma also leads the Wellcome-funded global initiative Connecting Climate Minds, which has involved around 1200 people across 130 countries to date. She also holds an AXA Climate and Health Fellowship on "Building Youth Resilience by Understanding and Intervening on the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Awareness", working with young people in Australia, Trinidad and the Philippines.
Dr Tim Sharp (aka Dr Happy) is the founder & CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) of The Happiness Institute, Australia’s first and now largest organisation devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families and organisations. He is an Adjunct Professor in Positive Psychology at UTS and RMIT University. His primary areas of interest include enhancing happiness at work as well as promoting healthy living via the application of positive psychology principles. He recently launched an exciting and radically new program, The Happiness Diet. Dr. Sharp is the bestselling author of among others The Happiness Handbook, 100 Ways to Happy Children: a guide for busy parents and most recently Live Happier Live Longer –a guide to positive ageing.
Dr Chloe Watfern is a maker and researcher with a longstanding interest in ecological emotions, climate distress, and human-nature connections. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, where she leads the Climate Lab, and a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Ecological Emotions Research Lab at the University of Sydney.
Christie Wilson is a Psychotherapist and Climate and Mental Health Manager at Psychology for a Safe Climate. She specialises in climate psychology, focusing on trauma-informed collaborative approaches to addressing climate-related emotions and wellbeing. As a faculty member of the Climate Emotional Resilience Network, she mentors climate-aware practitioners and leaders, supporting personal climate journeys toward just transitions and movement-wide regenerative development. Christie lives on Darkinjung Country, Central Coast, NSW, where she raised two children, and enjoys exploring wild spaces with her dingo, Skye.
Gus is a dynamic communicator, educator, and advocate, passionate about helping people transform complex emotions into practical actions. He is committed to making lived experience central to the climate conversation, and to ensuring people across Australia are equipped to identify, express, and respond to their climate-related emotions. When he’s not working as an advocate or engineer, you’ll likely find Gus on a rock climbing wall or camped out under the stars in his swag.
Ecomind benefits from the deep vibrant and experienced ecosystem of climate mental health professionals.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of all the lands upon which ECOMIND operates. We recognise that First Nations communities are at the physical and emotional frontline of the climate crisis and have been caring for land, waterways and community for millennia.
Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
ecomind (ABN: 78673469853) is an Australian registered charity