About Byabarra
Byabarra is named after a small inland town (20 minutes west of Wauchope on the mid north coast of NSW, Australia) - it resides in geographical area that is increasingly seeing the dangerous intersection of rising homelessness and extreme weather events.
Byabarra was created in response to both humanitarian and public health crises and works with community, government, business and other organisations to develop immediate and localised responses.
Byabarra brings together communities, services and lived experience to help ensure that everyone is protected when extreme weather strikes. We exist to turn concern into action, building practical solutions that strengthen resilience, protect lives and create communities where no one is left behind.
Byabarra’s aim is to not exist at all - to disappear because all people in Australia have access to housing that protects them from a rapidly changing world.
Climate adapted housing for all.
Climate protection for all.
About Jon Swain
Jon is the Founder and Director at Byabarra and has more than 16 years of experience in homelessness policy, service delivery and systems reform, and is recognised nationally for his work on homelessness, extreme heat and climate resilience.
In 2024, he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate international responses to extreme heat and homelessness, with findings published in his report The Heat Will Get Here Before the Housing.
Jon has also contributed to the development of innovative heat-response initiatives in Australia, including the award-winning Mobile Cooling Hub project and is a founding member of the Australian Climate and Homelessness Alliance (ACHA).
