29 November 2011

The award reflects the depth and breadth of the organisation’s environmental sustainability strategy and its commitment to excellence in care, both for patients and the environment.

St John of God Health Care’s forward-looking environmental fund allocates $1.2 million annually for priority initiatives not covered in normal budget processes. This ensures that bright environmental ideas can come on stream immediately resulting in rapid benefits for the hospital or other operating division.

In addition, the organisation is the first health sector employer to have implemented and used Energy Carbon Information System (ECIS) to electronically gather utility and waste data for performance measurement and National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER).

Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said the award reflects the hard work and dedication of the environmental teams and, critically, senior management buy-in that is vital to the success and sustainability of any corporate environmental program.

Dr Stanford said: “From our Board members and executives, who are pitching in by phasing out paper through the widespread use of tablet computers and taking part in sustainability leadership retreats, to our hospitals and other divisions who are enthusiastically embracing a number of environmental initiatives, we are determined to minimise the impact of our activities wherever and whenever we can.”

Some of the many success stories include the installation of solar hot water heating at our Murdoch hospital, with an anticipated 13% annual energy saving and the Travel Green program at our Subiaco hospital, which offers a daily allowance to those who use green modes of travel such as public transport, cycling or walking to get to work. So far, it has enticed 13% of the hospital’s caregivers to leave their cars at home and is now being extended to other operating divisions.