Sustainable Healthcare in Practice
A first-of-its-kind across Australia, this program addresses a critical area in health; the urgent need for our healthcare systems to align with climate change and sustainability imperatives, nationally and internationally.
We are living in a time when the impacts of climate change, planetary and human health are crucial to our daily lives. Health professionals, organisations, educators, industry bodies and leading global experts all agree; there is a rapidly growing need to understand the health sector’s contribution to the environmental and climate crises.
Sustainable Healthcare in Practice is a micro-credential, Master's level program that offers participants a deep understanding of sustainable healthcare, and equips them with applicable skills for the workplace.
The course provides you with the knowledge and tools to create sustainable healthcare practice, and reduce healthcare’s impact on the environment. The course is particularly relevant for leaders, teaching how to identify avenues for change as part of your practice, and the behaviour change tools to bring your team on the journey.
Further, if you achieve at least 50% in your overall score, you can apply for credit towards the M6024 Master of Public Health, M6038 Master of Health Professions Education – Clinical Sciences and M6039 Master of Clinical Simulation – Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.
On completion you'll be able to
What you'll learn
Drawing from international and national best practice, evidence and expertise, the course will discuss:
- Concepts of planetary health and sustainable healthcare
- Social and structural determinants of health inequity
- How the health sector contributes to the current environmental and climate crises
- Insights from systems perspectives and behavioural science to influence change
- Pathways to decarbonise healthcare and achieve net zero carbon
- Circular economy concepts and their application to healthcare
- Case studies of sustainable healthcare practice in energy, water, procurement, transport and waste applied to clinical and non-clinical setting
- Effective collaboration utilising behaviour change, stakeholder engagement and co-design approaches to influence change towards sustainable healthcare.
Modules
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Details
Who should attend
- Existing health professionals (clinicians and non clinician roles)
- Health educators
- Current or future graduate students from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
The online format of the course will particularly suit those in the workplace, as well as students located within Australia and beyond. The content is highly relevant for sector and team leaders needing to upskill and improve their climate literacy.
Duration and time commitment
The micro-credential runs for 11 weeks, inclusive of a 1 week break. The course consists of 7 modules. Expected time commitment is approximately 6-10 hours per week (including assessment preparation).
The course will be delivered fully online in a structured facilitator-led format. The course includes:
- Online learning materials including pre-recorded videos, readings, podcasts, case studies, and applied learning activities
- Webinars featuring leading experts, both live and on-demand
- Short quizzes (optional)
- Online discussions (optional)
- Two workplace assignments (see FAQs for further detail)
Program dates
14 September - 1 December 2026
Program fee
$3000 (incl GST)
End of Financial Year discount
Book before 30 June and access 30% off with code EOFY30.
- 20% discount for Monash alumni. To access the discount code visit the Alumni portal.
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this short course, you will be awarded a digital badge to share with your network. Find out more about digital badges.
Got a question?
Find out more in our Frequently Asked Questions or email us at sde@monash.edu.
Experts and contributors
The below experts contributed to shaping the key themes and content of this course:
Professor Karen Adams – Director, Monash Gukwonderuk Unit, Monash University
Fiona Armstrong – Director, Climate and Health Alliance
Behaviour Works Australia (Jennifer Dam, Dr Sarah Kneebone)
Carole Behne – Sustainable Healthcare Program Manager, Climate and Health Alliance
Dr Gaya Bimal – Former medical student / 'youth' representative, Monash University
Dr Rose Cameron – TRA2SH / Dept of Critical Care, University of Melbourne
Dr Stefanie Carino – Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
Dr Kate Charlesworth – Snr Advisor, Environmental Sustainability, NSW Ministry of Health
Climateworks Centre (Minalee Busi, Holly Dillabough, Wei Sue)
Filia Garivaldis – Lecturer; Course Director; Course Convenor, Monash Sustainable Development Institute
Assoc Professor Maithri Peiris Goonetilleke – School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Rachael Jackson – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Dr Selina Lo – Director, Australian Global Health Alliance
Renae McBrien – Consultant, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
Dr Janine Mohamed – CEO, Lowitja Institute
Catherine O'Shea – Sustainability Analyst, Ambulance Victoria
Adj Professor David Pencheon – former Director, UK NHS Sustainability Unit
Dr Anna Pietzsch – Specialist Anaesthetist, Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Dr Lana Vestarkis – Consultant Anaesthetist, Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Dr Aditya (Adi) Vyas – Public health physician
Dr Susan Wilburn – Health Care Without Harm
