How CHEP Created a Universal Doctor’s Certificate that Allows for Real Change
It is an undeniable fact that young people are the future of our world, and yet we are constantly forgetting to listen to them. Their voices are screaming to be heard everyday when it comes to the current climate crisis we are facing. They are clawing their way to get those who have power to see that the world that they are about to adopt is one that is dying. One that will be more challenging than it already is to live in.
Every year since 2018, there has been a school strike for climate change. Millions of students, teachers and parents abandon their schooling for the day and march the streets, raising their voices as one.
And yet, every year some of these students upon returning to school get reprimanded for ‘taking the day off’ without a proper reason. In an attempt to combat this completely unfair punishment given to young people, CHEP along with Dr David Karoly, councillor on the Climate Council of Australia, Dr Lesley Hughes, professor emerita in biology and pro-chancellor at Macquarie University, and Dr Nick Abel, honorary associate professor at ANU College of Science created a ‘Climate Doctor’s Certificate’.
The certificate allowed students to have full proof evidence as to why they were absent for the day and gave them the freedom to march without reprehension. The symptoms stated on the document included “ increased anxiety from the Australian Federal Government's ongoing climate policy inaction” and “elevated stress on seeing the impacts of the climate emergency now in Australia and worldwide.”
Glen Dickson, deputy chief creative officer at CHEP spoke to LBB’s Casey Martin on what the team learnt during this project and how listening to young people benefits society greatly.
LBB> What was the response like for the Climate Doctor’s Certificate?
Glen> It was a real love/hate response. Which is, I guess, typical of the polarised opinions in the world today whenever there’s open discussion about a big subject or issue. The people we made the idea for loved it: thousands of school students downloaded their personalised certificates and marched right across the country. The scientific community was incredibly supportive, too. They shared their research and knowledge and – courageously – put their names to the document. Government and school bodies were less impressed, it’s fair to say. And rounding out the spectrum on the far-right fringe, shock jocks like Andrew Bolt totally despised it (which we couldn’t have been happier about).
LBB> How did this come about? Were you given a brief and then did you come up with the idea? How does one go about creating a universal doctors certificate?
Glen> We have a great relationship with School Strike 4 Climate. They’re a volunteer group of incredibly inspiring, articulate kids who have taken it on themselves to stand up for the future they want. The idea for the Climate Doctor’s Certificate came from their direct experience a couple of years back, at the first big student climate march. A lot of students were disciplined by their schools for taking the day off because they didn’t have an officially sanctioned reason for not being in class that day. So, this year, we gave them one.
LBB> Talk us through the research done for this project? How did your research aid in the creation of this certificate?
Glen> We relied directly on the knowledge and scientific rigour of three leading Australian climate scientists. Dr David Karoly, Councillor on the Climate Council of Australia and a Professor Emeritus at the University of Melbourne. Dr Lesley Hughes, Professor Emerita in Biology and Pro-Chancellor at Macquarie University. And Dr Nick Abel, Honorary Associate Professor at ANU College of Science.
LBB> Whose voices did you listen to in order to ensure that this had the impact it needed to have?
Glen> Dealing with our young clients at School Strike 4 Climate was such an inspiring experience. From our first conversation with one of their local leaders and spokespeople, 16-year-old Philip Island school student Joey Thompson, it was clear that they have an incredibly refined sense of both their organisation and – more importantly – what the students they mobilise will respond to. They helped us shape the idea from beginning to end. Making sure that it signalled the right intent. That it felt like it was from them.
LBB> And finally, what have you learnt along the way? How has this campaign impacted you?
Glen> We encouraged everyone at CHEP to join the march. And we all saw, firsthand, the very real anger and disillusionment the next generation feel when it comes to the future of the planet they’ll inherit. But importantly, we also heard young Australians ideas on how we all might all do better. be better. Care enough to try to change the things that are all too readily put in the ‘too hard’ basket. The students educated us.
