After a century of coal, what should Latrobe Valley's identity look like in the future?

In this final instalment of season 2, we explore new technologies being researched right here in Gippsland, and how a multi-year long co-designed project has led to community visioning what could be after coal.

First, we dive into hydrogen with Dr Surbhi from Federation University. We explore how to cut through the greenwashing and learn what the energy could do here in Australia, if done correctly.

Then we shift to local futures with Associate Professor Jess Reeves. Jess takes us inside a multi-year project she led, working with communities across the Latrobe Valley to co-design what post-mining land could become. Find out what Jess and the team discovered about the future of our home, through deliberation processes with First Nations communities, young people and local residents.

To cap off the season, we also give out 'The Coalies' Coal Face Awards for things what we said that were good. Bon apitite x Show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FAsPPI2LWG1RuFesqnfJnw3wN2HfeciZJBFSJwDt2Eo/edit?usp=sharing

It's our season finale and we’re going beyond coal! After a century of digging, burning, and extracting, we ask the question: what actually happens next? Between election jitters, fringe politics, and the slow-motion chaos of public sector cuts, the future feels… complicated. Join Dr. Rosemary Joyner (MLRA) who talks storytelling, community voice, and what people really want: a future that’s fair, secure, and not just another corporate experiment. Then hear from Professor Thomas Baumgartl from Fed Uni who takes us deep into the dirt, literally. Soil is the underdog of mine rehab, drought is coming for us, and it turns out you can’t just chuck some grass seed on a slope and call it a day. Ps. because we yapped so much, this season finale has been split into a bonus beyond coal part 7, which we will release next month. So more Coal Face for all! Show notes/ sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vhKOtvPOdfcbsRI1ON3IhDslnjDVXg1aY3LfabJ-1kg/edit?usp=sharing

This is episode is all about looking forward to Offshore wind. More specifically, the Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy AKA ACOWE’s Technical symposium, which happened back in September 2025. The ACOWE Technical Symposium was the first of its kind, and was presented in collaboration with the Gippsland New Energy Conference.

Join us as we learn from expert guests Tamara Al-Hashimi the Technical Director of Marine Science at RPS, Associate Professor Peggy Shu-Ling Chen, PhD director at the Centre for Maritime and Logistics Management and Avi Shonberg the Chief Geotechnical Engineer at Ørsted.

Thanks you to Federation University Australia and the Victorian State Government for supporting the Coal Face podcast. Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Vjma-mruFs79GpXMDT0yq8rfH26H58n8ulw7UCwbGc/edit?usp=sharing