University of Melbourne Recognised for Leadership in Sustainable Healthcare at Victorian Public Healthcare Awards
The University of Melbourne Sustainable Healthcare Team has been recognised as a finalist in the 'Creating a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Health System' category at the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. This recognition acknowledges the team’s collaborative efforts in supporting the Parkville Precinct Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition and driving transformative change in environmental sustainability within the healthcare sector.
Dr. Ben Dunne, Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical Sustainability Lead and Senior Fellow in Climate, Health, and Sustainability at the University of Melbourne Medical School, has been instrumental in championing these sustainability efforts initiated by Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2022 and expanded to Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Women’s Hospital in 2023. The University of Melbourne has played a critical supporting role, not only by providing expertise in Sustainability in Healthcare Quality Improvement (QI) but also enabling the expansion of the Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition. Dr. Sonia Chanchlani, Sustainability in Healthcare QI Lead and Senior Fellow in Climate, Health, and Sustainability at the University of Melbourne Medical School, developed a programme to equip healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge to reduce unnecessary testing, low-quality care, carbon emissions, and waste.
The results of this collaboration include significant environmental and financial benefits with 2.6 million kg of carbon saved, $800 000 in financial savings, 3000 kg of waste reduced, and the prevention of 250 000 single-use items from entering landfill. The University of Melbourne’s continued support has been essential in scaling these sustainability efforts and reinforcing the importance of embedding sustainability across healthcare services.
Dr Ben Dunne stated, “This initiative has fostered a culture of environmental stewardship within healthcare settings, illustrating how grassroots efforts, supported by institutional collaboration, can lead to significant environmental and financial outcomes. We look forward to expanding the competition across the state so recognition at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards serves as a testament to the powerful impact of integrating sustainability into healthcare”.
Dr Sonia Chanchlani stated, “We are proud to support innovation, collaboration, and education as we work together to build an environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient health system for the future”.
