Environmental sustainability

ANZCA is committed to minimising the health impact of climate change and promoting environmental sustainability, and has taken measures to reduce its environmental impact. Here are some of the ways we are doing this. ​

Join the Environmental Sustainability Network

The Environmental Sustainability Network (ESN) advocates, collaborates and promotes initiatives and projects related to environmental sustainability within anaesthesia, perioperative and pain medicine and is available to fellows, trainees, SIMGs and non-ANZCA members.

ANZCA statement on climate change

In January 2020, ANZCA released a statement on climate change. 
Sustainability-infographic.pngSee the full statement here. More information about ANZCA’s position on environmental sustainability can be found in its professional document PS64: Statement on Environmental Sustainability in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine Practice.

The Environmental Sustainability Audit Tool

The Environmental Sustainability Audit Tool has been developed by the ANZCA Environmental Sustainability Working Group and was launched on World Environment Day, 5 June 2020. The tool has been created to assist departments and practitioners to develop and maintain practices that promote environmental sustainability in line with ANZCA’s professional document PS64: Statement on Environmental Sustainability in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine Practice.
 
While there are many actions that may be undertaken to improve sustainable practice broadly within the health sector, this audit tool is designed to help identify interventions that could reasonably be considered at an individual or departmental level.
 
The audit tool groups activities to improve environmental sustainability under the following headings: reduce, reuse, recycle, and leadership. 

In this video, ANZCA councillor Dr Scott Ma and Wollongong-based trainee anaesthetist Dr Jess Hegedus explain how the audit tool was developed and how to use it.

Environmental Sustainability Libguide

Visit our Environmental Sustainability Libguide to explore an extensive range of journal articles, books, links and other resources on environmental sustainability in healthcare.

What is the college doing to be sustainable?

We're committed to proactive and positive action that reduces our environmental footprint and aligns with the expectations and achievements of its fellows, trainees and specialist international medical graduates.
 
This environmental sustainability work is ongoing and the college works with building facility companies, contractors, suppliers, venues, travel agents and the healthcare industry across Australia and New Zealand to constantly look for improvements.

Sustainability in our offices

From 2015 – 2020  the college has saved approximately seven hundred and twenty reams of paper by moving subscriptions, council elections, Research Foundation appeals and Christmas cards online. That is roughly equivalent to one acre of forest, something we are very proud of.

  

Our offices take part in recycling programs for e-waste, printer cartridges, paper and cardboard, comingled recycling, batteries and soft plastic. ANZCA House produces its own compost from kitchen waste to nourish its iconic cottage garden. Over the past five years almost all of the Halogen down lights and fluorescent tube lighting in ANZCA House have been replaced with more energy-efficient LED light fittings.
 
The college invests $A5000 annually in a government approved carbon emissions offset scheme which offsets approximately 25 per cent of emissions resulting from ANZCA-related airline travel. This supports the Australian Native Reforestation ‘Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Project’ and the New Zealand Afforestation Project.
 
COVID-19 has led to the advent of Zoom conferencing. Replacing travel with video conferencing has had a positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions as well as substantially reducing costs.  
 
We continue to assess ways to minimise our environmental footprint and are open to new initiatives as they become available.

Sustainability at ANZCA events

As part of the college’s commitment to environmental sustainability we have eliminated printed collateral and single use plastic. We no longer print registration brochures, handbooks or pocket programs for the Annual Scientific Meetings (ASM). The volume of paper to produce the brochures and handbooks for one ASM equates to approximately eight hundred and eighty reams of paper, which is in excess of fifty trees and well in excess of an acre of forest.
 
The college no longer saw this as tenable and now opts for online brochures and handbooks, provides access to the ASM scientific program virtually and promotes use of the onsite mobile app. The ASM utilises digital signage and where possible single use signage has been eliminated. If printed signage is required we ensure it is printed on material that is or can be recycled.  

Since 2016, items we have eliminated from events include satchels, bottled water, and paper based tickets. At the 2019 ASM in Kuala Lumpur, we worked with the venue to change their catering processes and were proud that not one single use plastic water bottle was served as part of delegate catering or speaker refreshments. Together with your support we’re committed to ensuring this is the case for future ASMs. Your support of these environmental changes has helped drive the success and strengthened the positive impact on our meeting footprint. We know working together, we will continue to do better.
 
Where possible we have eliminated plastic name badges and when these are required we source materials that have been treated with EcoPure®, an organic additive designed to enhance the speed of plastic decomposition in landfills. Delegates are encouraged to bring their own Keep Cups and use the water stations for re-filling water bottles.

 
The college upholds a commitment to host events at venues, particularly for the ASM, that have a publicly available sustainability statement. We’ve worked with venues who have their organic waste converted to fertiliser and green electricity and have unused food given to people in need and diverting food waste from landfill.
 
We continue to strive towards fostering a more sustainable future for our members and the community.
 


 

Recognition for ANZCA's carbon offsets

ANZCA is recognised by Carbon Neutral, Australia's largest biodiverse reforestation offset developer, for being carbon neutral for 2019 and offsetting 485 tonnes of carbon emissions associated with flights for that year. The offset was split into two categories:

  • NZ Forestry and Pacific Islands (Solomon, Fiji, Vanuatu) avoided deforestation
  • Australia (WA) Biodiverse Reforestation Carbon Credits (BRCO), Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor

More information on Carbon Neutral can be found here.

Introducing cloth theatre hats in your hospital

Replacing disposable theatre hats with washable cloth hats has been shown as a sustainable and economically viable alternative in many hospitals. Please visit our LibGuide with studies to support this. 

Here are some tips that might be useful if you would like to approach your hospital to make the change.

  • Find out if a policy exists at your hospital that governs theatre attire during surgery. A first port of call should be your online policy repository (if one exists). The next best alternative is your theatre NUM or in-charge; they’re frequently intimately aware of policies and protocols.
  • Gather an interested and diverse team to support you. It’s best to include anaesthetists, surgeons, theatre nurses, infection control to ensure all appropriate aspects of the problem are considered. Consider involving your hospital’s sustainability team, if one exists.  
  • Write an evidence based proposal, present it to your hospital executive alongside an evidence based guideline. Include some versions that have been successful.

Environmental Sustainability Network

The purpose of the ESN is “to advocate, collaborate and promote initiatives and projects related to environmental sustainability within anaesthesia, perioperative and pain medicine”.

Find out more

Environmental Sustainability LibGuide

Access a wide range of sustainability resources, including journal articles, apps, and publications.

Find out more

Environment and sustainability research grant

We're helping to support research exploring environmental impact of anaesthesia and related products and activities

Find out more

Upcoming events

16 September 2023 - 17 September 2023 | National Convention Centre Canberra

Join us for the 2023 Art of Anaesthesia ACE meeting

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5 May 2023 - 9 May 2023 | ICC Sydney

Save the date for the 2023 ANZCA ASM which will be held at the International Convention Centre...

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5 May 2023 | ICC Sydney

We are pleased to announce that we will be back in person for the 2023 FPM Symposium.

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25 November 2023 | University of Sydney

Please join us for the 2023 NSW ACE Anatomy Workshop to be held at the University of Sydney.

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11 November 2023 - 12 November 2023 | Pacific Bay Resort

Join us at the 2023 NSW ACE Spring Meeting to be held on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November 2023...

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17 June 2023 | Alice Springs Convention Centre

Join us for the 2023 NT ACE Conference "Towards zero" at the Alice Springs Convention Centre.

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3 May 2023 - 4 May 2023 | ICC Sydney

Join us for Challenges and Choices in Obstetric Anaesthesia from 3-4 May 2023, a two-day...

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15 July 2023 - 16 July 2023 | Shangri-la the Marina

Save the date for the 2023 Queensland ACE meeting "Everyday topics from the tropics", to be held...

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16 June 2023 - 18 June 2023 | Coral Sea Resort, Airlie Beach, Qld

The theme of this three-day meeting is ‘challenging the status quo’.

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9 June 2023 - 11 June 2023 | Cable Beach Resort, Broome

2023 WA ACE Country Conference held at the Cable Beach Resort in Broome.

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1 August 2024 - 3 August 2024 | Thredbo Alpine Hotel

Join us for the "Regional ultrasound scanning workshop for peripheral nerve blocks" from Thursday...

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15 May 2023 - 16 May 2023 | School of Medicine, Grafton

The ANZCA Educators Program (AEP) aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to...

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24 August 2023 - 25 August 2023 | ANZCA Brisbane Office

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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21 June 2023 - 22 June 2023 | To be advised

This AEP event runs alongside the 2023 Combined SIG Meeting.

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14 September 2023 - 15 September 2023 | ANZCA House

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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19 October 2023 - 20 October 2023 | ANZCA Perth Office

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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27 July 2023 - 28 July 2023 | To be advised

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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3 May 2023 - 4 May 2023 | ANZCA Sydney Office

The ANZCA Educators Program (AEP) aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to...

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9 August 2023 - 10 August 2023 | Online

The ANZCA Educators Program (AEP) aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to...

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17 May 2023 - 18 May 2023 | Online

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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1 November 2023 - 2 November 2023 | Online

The AEP aims to equip clinicians with the skills and knowledge to enable effective learning.

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18 July 2023 - 15 August 2023 | Online

ANZCA Educators Program: Zoom Series (18 Jul-15 Aug)

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28 August 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Save the date for the FPM Queensland August evening meeting.

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19 June 2023 | Virtual

Join us for the the FPM Queensland June evening meeting "Optimising evidence-based care for low...

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1 May 2023 - 12 May 2023 | Various hospitals

Viva practice night to assist trainees in their final viva exam preparation.

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26 June 2023 - 30 June 2023 | Northside Conference Centre

A week long interactive exam preparation course for NSW trainees sitting the primary written exam

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17 April 2023 - 28 April 2023 | Various hospitals

Free practice viva sessions to assist NSW trainees in preparing for the ANZCA primary viva exam

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19 June 2023 - 30 June 2023 | Auckland

This two week course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be included in the...

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9 August 2023 - 11 August 2023 | Wellington Hospital

This three day course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be included in the...

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17 July 2023 - 21 July 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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26 April 2023 - 11 May 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Two free mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA final viva exam.

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27 September 2023 - 17 October 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Two free mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA final exam

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1 November 2023 | Virtual

Free mock viva session designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA final viva examination.

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23 May 2023 | Virtual

Free mock viva session designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA final viva examination.

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20 September 2023 | Virtual

A free evening course for Queensland trainees preparing for their final vivas.

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19 April 2023 | Virtual

A free evening course for Queensland trainees preparing for their final vivas.

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5 June 2023 - 9 June 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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27 November 2023 - 1 December 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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18 February 2023 - 17 June 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Interactive long course held over five Saturdays covering core topics of the primary examination.

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8 July 2023 - 11 November 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

Interactive long course held over five Saturdays covering core topics of the primary examination.

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18 April 2023 - 27 April 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

A series of evening mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA primary...

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13 September 2023 - 19 September 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

A series of two free mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA primary...

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21 September 2023 - 3 October 2023 | Virtual

A series of evening mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA primary...

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24 April 2023 - 10 May 2023 | Virtual

A series of evening mock viva sessions designed to help trainees prepare for the ANZCA primary...

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30 September 2023 - 1 October 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This intensive course consists of continuous practice vivas to help trainees prepare for the...

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22 April 2023 - 23 April 2023 | ANZCA QLD regional office

This intensive course consists of continuous practice vivas to help trainees prepare for the...

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26 June 2023 - 30 June 2023 | The Lion Hotel

This full-time, five day intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could be...

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9 February 2023 - 29 November 2023 | SA ANZCA Regional Office

For SA/NT trainees preparing for the primary exam.

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4 February 2023 - 24 November 2023 | Online (Zoom)

For SA/NT trainees preparing for the final exam.

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24 July 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

A comprehensive one-day course covering the anatomy knowledge required to pass the ANZCA final...

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17 July 2023 - 21 July 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

This full-time, week-long intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that could...

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20 November 2023 - 1 December 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

This full-time, ten day long intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that...

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15 May 2023 - 26 May 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

This full-time, ten day long intensive course covers many of the core curriculum topics that...

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10 November 2023 | ANZCA House & via Zoom

All Victorian trainees are invited to be a part of this annual event.

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