The war in Iran has drawn stark attention to Australia’s over-reliance on fossil fuels. It is now more pertinent than ever that we transition away from unsustainable energy sources and towards a greener, more self-sufficient future. That transition cannot happen without the healthcare industry.
Healthcare produces seven percent of Australia’s carbon emissions annually. Eighty per cent of these emissions come from clinical care (and 40 per cent of that clinical care is considered to be low value or even harmful care.)
It’s not all bad news: ANMF is aware of countless sustainability initiatives in hospitals across the state that have resulted in drastic emissions reductions. RN Kylie Feely’s efforts at Sunshine Hospital, for example, or Monika Page’s work at Melbourne Health. Most of these initiatives also save hospital management money.
These sorts of sustainability initiatives need to be applied on a wider scale, however. To truly make a difference; they need to be universal.
That’s where the Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module comes in. The Module recognises the urgent need for the healthcare sector to address its environmental impact and to build resilience against climate risks that threaten continuity and quality of care.
Earlier this year, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare endorsed this new module to now be included in hospital accreditation. While the module is currently voluntary, it is predicted to form part of the third edition of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards – due to be launched in 2028 – which will make the module mandatory.
This means that by 2030 all hospitals in Australia will be required to have made sufficient steps toward embedding sustainability into everyday practice and transition towards net zero.
For many passionate ANMF members, especially in rural areas, getting sustainability initiatives off the ground in their respective wards and departments has been a hard slog. This module will enable engagement at an executive level with sustainability and help ANMF members to get initiatives off the ground and flying towards net zero.
Find out more and download the Module at safetyandqualitygov.au.
