New National Scheme environmental strategy focuses on reducing waste, cutting emissions

09 Apr 2025

Ahpra has taken an important step towards a more sustainable future, launching the National Scheme Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024-2027 (ESS) to guide the reduction of its carbon footprint and broader environmental impact. 

The ESS commits Ahpra and National Boards to significantly reduce emissions related to travel, waste and paper usage by at least 20% by 2027. It also commits the regulator to support and encourage health practitioners to cut emissions in their practice and the services for which they work.

The strategy is aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and includes objectives in areas such as sustainable procurement, health system leadership, and practitioner support and guidance. 

Ahpra National Director of Strategy Paul Shinkfield said the launch of the ESS showed Ahpra was serious about addressing climate change, which the World Health Organization calls a ‘fundamental threat to human health’. 

‘The health sector is one of Australia’s biggest contributor to emissions, so we are leading the way and committing to reducing our climate impacts and helping registered practitioners, employers and the broader sector to reduce theirs,’ Paul said. 

‘Our first step is to use this strategy to improve our own practices and environmental impact, before working to support climate action and improvements among our external partners and all registered health practitioners.’ 

The ESS is available at on Ahpra’s Corporate Publications page, or via direct link here: Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024 - 2027 (468 KB, PDF).