Let’s talk sustainability

We are proud to announce that Anglican Care has officially received “Bronze Partnership status” in recognition of our demonstrated commitment to the NSW Government’s Sustainability Advantage Program. We are one of only a handful of aged care organisations in the Hunter to have achieved this acknowledgement.

The benefits of the Sustainability Advantage Program include the ability to:

• Measure Anglican Care’s carbon footprint and manage emissions
• Manage environmental risk and ensure compliance
• Improve productivity
• Integrate environmental strategies with business planning
• Use resources more efficiently
• Engage and mentor staff
• Ability to engage in social responsibility activities i.e. Lifestyle Resource Van

Deb Matthews is leading this vital project and has recently completed the prestigious Sustainability Practitioner program with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership held in Melbourne. This honour saw Deb become the first aged care recipient of the Practitioner program. Deb and our Sustainability Team will continue to oversee the roll out of our “Sustainable Environment Policy and Sustainability Framework”, as the year progresses.

“We have made significant progress on various projects this year, including the completion of our Bin Trim Assessment at Warnervale Gardens, Carey Bay, Scenic Lodge, Jesmond Grove and McIntosh Court homes. We carried out this project in conjunction with the EPA and their appointed consultants. As a result of the waste assessments, a detailed action plan was prepared and is currently being implemented at all of our Hunter and Central Coast facilities with great results. We are very pleased to have since been approached by the EPA for inclusion in this program on the Mid Coast, due to commence in July.

We have also completed the EPA pilot program Your Business Is Food Program (YBIF) which gave the organisation, in particular our hospitality team, greater knowledge and skills to avoid food waste within our residential care homes. The upcoming months continue to be exciting, with the further expansion of our Bin Trim Program, the introduction of solar installations across various Anglican Care sites, further supply chain reviews and more!”, stated Deb.

Today, to raise awareness of the necessity for sustainability within the Aged Care Sector and to celebrate our achievement of Bronze Partner status, we are hosting a Sustainability Matters ‘Green Day‘ organisation wide. Today each site will be hosting a special morning tea complete with green themed food as well as ‘going green’ with their clothing for the special day. Not forgetting our staff who will be adorning green ribbons to highlight our Sustainability warriors and raise awareness of the necessity of sustainability within the aged care sector. Staff members are also encouraged to embrace the day by making it a single use plastic free day, bring in their old mobile phones for recycling and participate in a book swap.

Sustainability matters and we will keep you informed of our further progress and commitment to this throughout the year, including a Sustainability Video to be released August 2019.

PREVIOUS SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

We are proud to share that earlier in the year Deb Matthews received a Scholarship from the Office of Environment and Heritage to be included as a Delegate in the Sustainability Practitioner Programme held at The Mansion Hotel at Werribee Park, Melbourne. (image below).

There were only 4 scholarships awarded this year – Anglican Care, Blackmores, Central Coast Council and Stone & Wood.

EY Australia, collaborating with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) delivered the Sustainability Practitioner Program for Australia. These residential seminars bring together delegates from a range of industries with a faculty of international and local experts. Participants explore the challenges facing us, the strategic implications for their businesses, and how, as leaders, they can activate a response to those challenges through resilient business models. The interactive learning model combines group discussion, individual reflection and expert presentations. Some excellent presentations by the likes of Jonathon Porritt who is a renowned figure in the world of corporate sustainability for 40 years, Professor Will Steffen – Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University and a member of the Climate Council of Australia – he was also the climate change expert involved in the controversial Rocky Hill open cut coal mine proposal in the Gloucester region. Deb, and her Sustainability Planning Team, are getting serious about sustainability throughout our organisation.