Safer Cooking, Shared Learning, Stronger Communities
On 23 March, in Melbourne, Asian Australians for Climate Solutions delivered an induction cooking workshop with the Afghan community, creating a practical and welcoming space to explore safer and healthier alternatives to gas cooking. Through live demonstrations, hands-on participation and a shared meal, the workshop showed how home electrification can be made tangible, relevant and easy to begin.
Rather than talking about electrification in abstract terms, the session focused on everyday life in the kitchen — a place that is central to family, culture and community. Cooking together made the conversation more accessible and grounded. Participants were able to see induction cooking in action, ask questions in real time, and experience firsthand how it can support healthier homes while maintaining the joy and familiarity of preparing food together. 🍳
The workshop also highlighted the value of community-led engagement. When people are invited into a relaxed and culturally safe environment, important conversations become easier to have. The hands-on format helped build trust, sparked curiosity and created opportunities for meaningful exchange. It was not just about learning a new appliance or technology, but about giving people the confidence to consider practical changes in their own homes. 🌱
This kind of work matters because the shift away from gas is not only a climate issue. It is also about health, safety, cost of living and making sure communities have access to information and support in ways that feel relevant and respectful. For many households, the path towards home electrification can feel technical or overwhelming. Workshops like this help break that down into something simple, social and achievable.
We are grateful to Penny from Environment Victoria for organising the event, supporting the kitchen setup, guiding the session and helping with pack-down. We also extend our thanks to Kiera from Neighbourhood Houses Victoria for her support throughout. Their partnership helped make the workshop possible and ensured the session ran smoothly from beginning to end. 🤝
At AAFCS, we believe climate action is most effective when it is community-led, practical and culturally safe. This workshop is one example of how small, everyday actions can open the door to broader change. By meeting people where they are, and by connecting climate solutions to daily life, we can make home electrification more inclusive and more accessible for multicultural communities. ✨
We look forward to bringing more workshops like this to communities across Melbourne and beyond, helping more households take small but meaningful steps towards cleaner, safer homes. If your community group or organisation would like to collaborate on a workshop like this, we would love to hear from you. 📩
