Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), has developed a variety of free interdisciplinary clinical education resources which you can find listed below and on the Promoting Sustainable Healthcare page. They can be used to update health professional curricula to incorporate important education about climate health and sustainable practice.
We have started integrating these resources into medical schools, teaching hospitals and speciality colleges across Australia.
Please contact [email protected] if you would like to get involved, or would like more information.
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), has successfully advocated for, and assisted in, the integration of climate health risks and sustainability into medical education curricula and healthcare standards across the country, including the AMC National Framework for Prevocational Medical Training, AMC Primary Medical School Standards, the NSQHS Sustainable Healthcare Module, and the Victorian Public Hospital Enterprise Agreement.
It is imperative that the medical workforce understand, address, and can respond to the health effects of climate change, which has been declared the single biggest health threat facing humanity in the 21st century. Many Australian medical colleges have recognised they have a duty to be part of the solutions, and to prepare their members for responding to these impacts.
Greening your health organisation
The carbon footprint of Australia’s healthcare sector is estimated at over 7% of Australia’s total emissions. While every sector needs to play its part to limit global warming and environmental degradation, the healthcare sector has an added responsibility (and opportunity) to lead mitigation of emissions and environmental impacts. Find out more about our systems for sustainable healthcare.
National and International Medical Education Partnerships
We are proud to be a signatory of the The Academic Health Institutions’ Declaration on Planetary Health declaring the health of the planet a Code Red emergency and call for immediate implementation of planetary health education and research, and the transition to climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems in order to build a healthy, sustainable, and just future for all.
We are a partner of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education.
Please click here for links to educational content, resources, and information on a wide variety of climate and health topics for members and health professions schools/programs to enhance their development of locally tailored climate-health educational opportunities.
The International Planetary Health Report Card is a student-led publication compiled of gap analysis reports reflecting on the planetary health curriculum in medical schools and identifying opportunities for improvement. Dr Grant Silbert, an intern, and Emily Coady, a final year medical student, led Australia's first contribution to this international publication.
DEA’s advocacy role and resources are promoted by the PHRC team and links to other resources can be found here: https://phreportcard.org/
NSW Health is establishing a climate risk and net zero program, to coordinate and scale-up action across NSW Health. This website contains practical information and resources to support staff in the transition to a modern, low carbon health system. Find the NSW goverment net zero program here.