Empowering Healthcare Staff to Drive Sustainability: University of Melbourne launches Sustainability in Quality Improvement Workshops
The healthcare sector accounts for 7% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, with hospitals contributing over 44% of these. A considerable portion of emissions arise from inefficiencies, such as unnecessary or duplicate tests and procedures which use resources whilst offering limited patient benefit. Despite this, healthcare staff often face barriers to engaging in sustainability initiatives, including competing priorities and a lack of training in quality improvement.
To address these challenges, innovative approaches such as the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) framework have emerged. SusQI integrates sustainability into traditional quality improvement methods, enabling healthcare staff to deliver outcomes that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Recognising the transformative potential of SusQI, the University of Melbourne Sustainable Healthcare Team partnered with theUK’s Centre for Sustainable Healthcare to become Victoria’s first SusQI Beacon sitein 2024. This milestone solidified the University’s role as a leader in sustainable healthcare education and innovation.
In October 2024, the University hosted Victoria’s first public SusQI Workshop, bringing together 50 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, allied health staff, and sustainability officers. The workshop was a hands-on, four-hour session designed to equip participants with the skills to design and implement quality improvement projects with a sustainability lens.
Participants gained expertise in:
- Project planning
- Process mapping
- Prioritisation strategies
- Organisational change
- Carbon footprinting
The workshop was an overwhelming success. Attendees reported increased understanding of sustainability in quality improvement and felt empowered to develop and execute projects within their organisations. Impressively, 100% of participants said they would recommend the workshop to a colleague.
To meet the growing demand, the University of Melbourne plans to deliver additional SusQI workshops in 2025. These sessions will further expand partnerships, including with Safer Care Victoria, and amplify the impact of sustainability initiatives across the healthcare sector.
“By fostering a culture of sustainability, these efforts are driving innovative solutions to environmental challenges while maintaining excellence in patient care” stated Dr Sonia Chanchlani, SusQI Lead and Sustainability, Climate and Health Senior Fellow.
As the sector continues to evolve, the University of Melbourne’s leadership in this space is empowering healthcare staff to be at the forefront of sustainable, high-quality care.
If you'd like to learn more about upcoming workshops or how to get involved, stay tuned for updates from the University of Melbourne’s Sustainable Healthcare Team.