The University of Melbourne’s Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition is a cross-sector partnership supporting health service staff to design and deliver sustainable healthcare quality improvement projects. Led by the Melbourne Medical School Sustainable Healthcare Team and delivered with university-affiliated health services, the competition combines training, practical tools, local support, impact measurement and recognition to help staff improve care while reducing emissions, waste and costs.

The competition began at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2022, expanded to three health services in 2023–2024, and now involves eight participating health services in 2025/26. Through the University’s Sustainability in Quality Improvement expertise, participants receive guidance to identify opportunities, assess impacts and implement practical changes within clinical and operational settings.

Over four years, 76 projects have been submitted, collectively delivering site-reported savings of almost $3 million, approximately 3,700 tCO₂e avoided, 69 tonnes of waste diverted and more than 800,000 items kept from landfill. The partnership demonstrates how universities and health services can work together to build sustainable healthcare capability and scale local innovation.