The Great Southern Reef is an 8,000-kilometre stretch of temperate rocky reefs and kelp forests that hugs the southern coastline of Australia from Sydney to Perth. It’s home to incredible marine life like leafy sea dragons, giant cuttlefish, octopuses, and playful seals. It’s a $11.56 billion cornerstone of local economies and part of our way of life for millions of Aussies. But it’s also under serious threat.

Join us as we chat with Stefan Andrews, marine biologist, filmmaker, educator, and Co-Founder of the Great Southern Reef Foundation, who walks us through the rich biodiversity of this unsung natural wonder—and the climate challenges it now faces. From marine heatwaves and toxic algal blooms to kelp die-offs and urchin outbreaks, we uncover the alarming changes unfolding beneath the waves.

But it’s not all doom and gloom - there’s hope, and action we can take. This episode will open your eyes to a whole new world.

Learn More

• www.greatsouthernreef.com
• www.instagram.com/greatsouthernreef

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

Climate Change is the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide, causing unprecedented coral bleaching events. But here's the good news: individuals can take powerful, practical climate action to help save the Great Barrier Reef — and some of the soltuions might surprise you!

Joining us this week is marine scientist and climate campaigner Dr Yolanda Waters, founder and CEO of Divers for Climate, to share real, tangible ways to take action — no matter who you are or where you live.

In this episode:

• What’s really holding people back from urgent climate action?
• Does community action actually work?
• Making it personal: how to align your climate action with your passions and skills
• Political lobbying 101 (it’s easier than you think!)
• The A-B-C of climate action: six categories to remember
• Why joining an action group aligned to your interests makes a huge difference
• How being a First Nations ally fits into climate justice
• What’s more impactful: lifestyle changes, social actions, or civic action?
• “If I recycle and use a keep cup, is that enough?”
• The role of citizen science, coral surveys, and coral restoration
• How to talk about climate change in ways that motivate and inspire
• Why we need more storytellers — not more statistics
• How to turn your love for the reef into a meaningful career in climate and conservation

Take Action Now:

• Sign the Divers For Climate Statement: www.diversforclimate.com
• Follow Divers for Climate on Instagram: www.instagram.com/diversforclimate

📸 Thumbnail Image by Darian Woods

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

This week we head to the remote beaches of the Great Barrier Reef—where plastic pollution is piling up faster than we can clean it. But is picking up rubbish really the solution? Or just the beginning?

Join us as we play trash detective with marine debris expert Heidi Tait, founder of Tangaroa Blue and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. From her early days as a dive instructor to shaping global plastic policies, Heidi shares her extraordinary story—and the innovative ways she’s turning data into action.

Discover where this plastic really comes from, why even the most isolated coastlines aren’t safe, and how you can be part of the movement to stop pollution before it hits the beach.

Plus, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban break down what the latest Federal Election means for the future of the Great Barrier Reef.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org