Excellence in sustainability

This award recognises a project/team that provides an environmentally sustainable solution for delivering health care.

Meet our 2026 finalists

Digital welcome project – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

This initiative has transformed how patients and families receive important information at the beginning of their care. Instead of paper admissions packs that were often overwhelming or discarded, essential welcome information is now shared directly to a patient’s mobile phone, with the option to easily pass the information on to family or carers.

This approach supports understanding, choice and shared decision‑making. Built‑in safeguards are in place to ensure inclusivity for cognitively impaired patients and those requiring paper‑based forms.

By reducing printing and manual handling, the project cut waste and significantly lowered environmental impact, while saving staff time that can be redirected to patient care. The result is a simpler, more consistent and more inclusive experience that supports patients to feel informed, supported and involved.

Retail waste sustainability expansion initiative – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

This project made it simpler for hospital food vendors to reduce waste as part of their everyday operations. By introducing clear sorting options, practical bin placements and simple guidance, food scraps that once went to landfill are now diverted to the hospital’s organic waste streams.

The project team worked collaboratively to ensure the new approach fit seamlessly into busy food service environments, making it easy for vendors to dispose of organic waste without adding complexity.

The improvements have already led to a significant reduction in landfill waste and greenhouse emissions, with strong potential to keep growing. The initiative supports a more sustainable environment for patients, visitors and staff, while showing how small, well‑designed changes can deliver long‑term benefits for both people and the planet.

Spinal bracing project – Peel Health Campus

This project redesigned care so people with spinal fractures can receive the support they need without unnecessary travel, at a significantly lower cost and with measurable environmental benefits.

Instead of being moved elsewhere for spinal brace fitting, patients in the Peel-Murray region now receive this care locally, supported by specialist input through telehealth consultation.

This new approach reduces waiting times, avoids stressful transfers and helps people stay closer to home and family during recovery. It also saves ambulance time, reduces emissions linked to transport and frees up staff to focus on direct care. Importantly, it maintains safety and quality, with strong outcomes and no increase in return visits.

By simplifying the care journey and reducing disruption, the project delivers a more comfortable, efficient and sustainable experience that puts the needs of patients first while making better use of shared resources.

This award sponsored by

See other 2026 Excellence Award finalists.

Read about our 2026 SMHS Excellence Award sponsors.