Lithgow Energy: Household Workshops Report

Lithgow Energy: Household Workshops Report presents the findings from two community workshops delivered in partnership by the Lithgow District Chamber of Commerce and the SEED Lab at Western Sydney University, with sponsorship support from Transgrid. The workshops were held at Club Lithgow on Thursday 17 July 2025 and followed the Lithgow Student Future Visioning (2025) work, extending engagement to household perspectives closely connected to the mining and energy sectors.

The afternoon session engaged partners and family members of mining and energy workers, while the evening session focused on current workers from coal and related industries. Each workshop employed conversational, participatory activities to elicit reflections on Lithgow’s past, present, and future, identify perceived challenges and opportunities, prioritise emerging and desirable future jobs, and propose practical support mechanisms to strengthen Lithgow as a place to live and work.

The objectives of the workshops were to listen to community perspectives, synthesise shared priorities, and identify actionable next steps that could be implemented by local partners and organisations. The insights documented in this report may inform future communication strategies, training and employment pathways, place-based activation initiatives, and engagement with government, industry, and education providers.

Participation was voluntary, workshop notes were anonymised, and informed consent was obtained. The report presents cohort-specific insights, shared themes, recommended actions, and suggested next steps.