What do you get when you combine a Men’s Shed, a bunch of high school engineering students and one very creative Climate Mum?

A Climate Action Wheel of Fortune, of course!

Parents for Climate leader Ellie was listening to a podcast by environmental engineer and climate action designer Katie Patrick when inspiration struck. Katie talked about a “wheel of action,” and Ellie thought, Why not build one right here in Margaret River on Wadandi Boodja? Something fun. Something eye-catching. Something families could get involved in.

The idea came quickly. Bringing it to life? That took a little more heart, hustle and community magic.

From a Spark of an Idea to a Community Project

Ellie imagined a bright, colourful wheel at the farmers market. People could spin it, receive a climate action challenge - anything from easy household habits to bigger, community-level steps - and report back two weeks later to celebrate what they’d achieved. Local businesses would donate prizes. Kids would drag their parents over to have a go. It would make climate action visible, joyful and do-able.

But first, the wheel had to actually… spin.

Ellie headed straight to the local Men’s Shed — where, after attending a Ladies Day, she found a team of enthusiastic volunteers ready to help. Designs were sketched. Ideas were tested. Pieces were cut, sanded and adjusted.

“The biggest challenge was definitely making the wheel spin,” Ellie says with a laugh.
“It’s given me a whole new appreciation for engineering in general — and the invention of the wheel in particular! The old fellas at the Men’s Shed helped me shape the idea when it was still just a scribble. Then I took the spinning mechanism to the high school where I used to work, and the Year 12 Manual Industrial Services students jumped in to help. If you don’t have woodworking skills and your local Men’s Shed has a Ladies Day, I highly recommend it.”

By this point, the wheel wasn’t just a tool — it was a community project. Elders, teenagers, parents, market-goers… everyone had a hand in shaping it.

How the Wheel of Fortune Works

At a stall or community event, people step up to give the wheel a spin. Wherever the pointer lands, they receive a single action or in some cases a set of climate action ideas connected to a theme. Each person commits to completing an action within 14 days.

To boost follow-through, participants can:

• Write down their commitment
  
  
• Take a pledge selfie
  
  
• Share their promise with friends or family 
  
  
• Report back via social media or at the next market - and in Margaret River’s case, collect a prize from local businesses!
  
  

It’s simple. It’s playful. And it works because it taps into the psychology of action, something Katie Patrick champions in her work.

Katie reminds us that education alone isn’t enough to inspire behaviour change. The Wheel of Action uses proven tools such as:

• Group energy and accountability
  
  
• Making commitments publicly
  
  
• Short, time-bound challenges
  
  
• Novelty and fun
  
  
• A little randomness - the same thing that makes kids love lucky dips
  
  

When you combine these elements, everyday people shift from knowing about climate solutions to doing them.

Community-Created Climate Action

Back on Wadandi Boodja, Ellie has been collecting climate action ideas directly from market stall visitors. The cards for the wheel are being created by the very people who will use them — a true community-designed model.

“Once I’ve finished painting,” Ellie says,
“I’ll put the nails back in, number the wheel, create the matching action cards… and then we’re ready to test it out!”

Parents for Climate groups around the country are now exploring ways to bring the Climate Action Wheel of Fortune to their own communities. Imagine dozens of spinning wheels, hundreds of local challenges and thousands of tiny climate wins - all adding up.

Could This Work in Your Community?

If you love the idea of sparking climate action in a fun, family-friendly way, maybe a wheel belongs at your next market stall, school event or community day.

Stay tuned for updates from Ellie and the Margaret River team - and who knows, maybe your local group will be the next to build one.

More from Katie Patrick

• Website: katiepatrick.com
  
  
• YouTube: Katie Patrick – Tools for Climate Action
  
  
• Hello Worlde Labs: evidence-based action tools