Applications for the NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund closed on Friday 10 February 2023.

The NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund will support staff-led innovation projects that improve patient care and reduce our environmental footprint (either in emissions or waste).

About the fund

The NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund provides funding to staff employed within local health districts, specialty health networks, pillar or support organisations.

The Fund is designed to build sustainable innovation capability and accelerate innovation projects that improve patient care and reduce our environmental footprint (either in emissions or waste).

A NSW Health employee of a host organisation within the health system must lead the project.



Application process

Applications closed on Friday 10 February 2023.

All complete applications were reviewed by the Expert Review Panel.

There are specific priority areas for the fund. Applications must address one of the priority areas:

  • clinical care transformation
  • travel and transport
  • energy and assets
  • procurement and waste
  • pharmaceuticals and medicines.

Key dates

  • November 2022 - Applications open
  • 10 February 2023 - Submission deadline
  • February 2023 - Application review period by Review Panel
  • February 2023 - Application outcomes notified, feedback provided, and successful applications announced
  • February/March 2023 - Funding awarded – timing will be discussed with successful applicants
  • 30 June 2023 - Funds must be administered by the host organisation

The 2023 NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund recipients

Clinical care transformation/Procurement and waste

South Western Sydney Local Health District - A glove reduction pilot project empowering staff to strengthen hand hygiene practices and limit waste from unnecessary non-sterile glove use.

Clinical care transformation/Travel and transport

  • Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District - A virtual interpreting service for patients, families, and carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and the deaf community, reducing travel emissions.
  • Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District - A pilot project using loaned devices to support virtual care tele-therapy, improving patient access to virtual therapy programs and reducing travel emissions.

Procurement and waste

  • Sydney Local Health District - A study assessing the microbiology of patient's home devices to support the safe reuse of continuous positive airway pressure and non-invasive ventilation devices.
  • Northern Sydney Local Health District - A pilot project developing an anaesthetic waste gas transformation unit to remove excess gases from the operating theatre before it reaches the environment.
  • Central Coast Local Health District - A pilot project reducing the amount of reverse osmosis plant reject water within a renal dialysis service and reusing reject water for sanitary fixture flushing.
  • HealthShare NSW - An EnableNSW pilot project developing a circular model for home respiratory equipment ensuring timely supply of essential equipment, reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Energy and assets/Procurement and waste

  • South Eastern Sydney Local Health District - A pilot project replacing single-use plastic with re-usable sterilised hollowware to reduce waste in operating theatres.
  • Murrumbidgee Local Health District - A pilot gardening and composting project for mental health drug and alcohol consumers.

Pharmaceuticals and medicines

  • South Eastern Sydney Local Health District - A medication blister pack recycling program to recapture single-use plastic and aluminium waste from pharmaceuticals.
  • Western NSW Local Health District - A medication blister pack recycling program reducing the volume and cost of pharmaceutical waste in Western NSW.

Clinical care transformation/Pharmaceuticals and medicines

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District - A pilot project to improve antimicrobial prescribing through intravenous (IV) antimicrobial therapy, reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Clinical care transformation

Mid North Coast Local Health District - A pilot vegetable garden and outdoor play area for Port Macquarie mental health consumers.

Pharmaceuticals and medicines

Sydney Children's Hospitals Network - A pilot project auditing the use and leakage of nitrous oxide at a large tertiary children's hospital.

Travel and transport

Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network - A pilot project for more environmentally sustainable transport (e-cart) options to deliver clinical goods across the Long Bay complex.

Energy and assets

  • NSW Health Pathology - A pilot project installing sensor taps within the NSW Health Pathology Dubbo Laboratory to conserve water and support energy efficiency.
  • Sydney Children's Hospitals Network - A pilot project using green transport (WeWatt bike) to power personal devices within a large tertiary children's hospital.

Frequently asked questions

Eligibility

Can one individual apply for funding for more than one project?

Individuals may apply for funding for more than one innovation project. Each application must be endorsed by the Chief Executive of the Host Organisation. A maximum of five projects may be submitted by each Host Organisation.

Applicant

Does the applicant have to be an employee of NSW Health?

Yes, the applicant must be an employee of a NSW Health organisation that is either part of a local health district, specialty network, pillar or support organisations. The applicant should be employed by NSW Health for the duration of the project.

Host organisation

What is a host organisation?

Host organisations for fund projects must be one of the following:

  • a local health district
  • a specialty health network
  • pillar, or
  • NSW health organisation.

If my project has two host organisations, do I submit two applications?

No, do not submit two applications. Identify one lead host organisation and submit the application with the other host organisation as a partner organisation.

If a project is being conducted in more than one local health district, which should be the host organisation(s) and which should be partners?

Decisions regarding choice of host organisation will depend on the nature of the innovation project and the setting for practice change. Where the project will be conducted in more than one local health district, the host organisation should be the local health district that is driving the innovation project. Partner organisations should be those local health districts that are enabling the project.

Funding

What is maximum budget for the fund?

A maximum budget of $30,000 is permitted.

When will funding be provided to the host organisation?

Innovation funding will be provided to the host organisation from March 2023. The funds must be spent by 30 June 2023.

What funding options are available?

There is one funding option available for the fund:

Budget supplementation. This will be provided directly to the organisation. The funds must be spent by 30 June 2023 and cannot be rolled over. The NSW Ministry of Health will not be able to provide assistance in rolling over funds between financial years.

Priority areas

Are there priority areas for the fund?

There are specific priority areas for the fund. Applications must address one of the following priority areas:

  • Clinical care transformation
  • Travel and transport
  • Energy and assets
  • Procurement and waste
  • Pharmaceuticals and medicines

Please contact us if you have any questions or require more information.


Current as at: Tuesday 23 May 2023
Contact page owner: System Purchasing