Kat Byron

Kat has just started volunteering with the Australian Red Cross in Victoria. Having been involved with Red Cross in Darwin working with young people, she is now going to try her hand at first aid and emergency response work. Volunteering isn't something new to Kat, she has been at it for nearly 8 years. When Kat's not at work or with the Red Cross, you can find her in an alleyway somewhere in Melbourne checking out some local music.

Extreme-ly excited

April 02, 2010

I am one of the new-bie Extreme Weather Heroes and so ready to get amongst the action! We had our briefing weekend in the lush tropical awesomeness of the Gold Coast. All the other heroes are too deadly* and so into volunteering with all the different emergency response organisations. It made me realise that its time for me to get into it. So, I’m getting my act together. I am going to start volunteering with the Australian Red Cross in Melbourne. »

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Age: 26

State: VIC (via NT & NSW)

Chosen volunteer organisation:
Australian Red Cross

Motivation for joining:
I want to do what I can to look after people when another extreme weather event happens. I want to be ready.

‘Real’ job:
Youth HIV/AIDS Peer educator for a program called Agents of YEAH (check it out at www.yeah.org.au)

Thoughts on climate change and extreme weather:
I am convinced that climate change is real. I do what I can in my everyday life to be responsible for the amount of energy I use everyday. But extreme weather events are on the increase, so I want to be ready to help respond to these events. I have just come from tropical Darwin where cyclones are real and now moving to Victoria which was devastated by the Black Saturday fires. I need to learn a different set of skills to deal with the different weather events and different environments.

Likes:
Live music, op shopping, positive people who want to make a difference, social media & tofu

Dislikes:
Negativity

Proudest moment:
Becoming a vego (for all kinds of reasons)

Biggest learning experience:
Moving to Darwin! Those mob shared so much with me.

Most extreme thing you’ve seen/done:
Some people would say my hair is pretty extreme!

Why do you think people should volunteer:
Because its awesome. You can meet new people, change small chunks of the world and it looks pretty good on your resume as well.

extreme weather heroes

Kat Byron

Extreme-ly excited