NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund

The objectives of the Fund are to support projects that:

1. Improve health, patient care and/or human experience: Applicants must demonstrate how their project improves health outcomes for patients and/or improves the care experience.

2. Reduce waste and/or carbon emissions: Projects must support NSW Health’s transition to a modern, low-carbon health system. The Fund supports net zero initiatives that reduce NSW Health’s carbon footprint across scope 1 (direct on-site emissions) scope 2 (purchased energy) and scope 3 (supply chain emissions).

3. Are scalable: Initiatives or projects should have the potential to be translated into policy, practice and/or scaled and shared across other LHDs/SHNs across the state.

4. Support and engage staff: Raise awareness that sustainability is part of quality healthcare and enable staff to get involved in net zero initiatives in their workplace.

Eligible applicants include NSW local health district (LHDs), specialty health network (SHNs), pillar and support organisation staff.

The application must be led by a NSW Health staff member. Individuals or groups may apply.

The initiative or project must be hosted by and conducted within a NSW Health LHD, SHN, pillar or support organisation.

The Chief Executive of the Host Organisation must endorse the Application submission and certify that the initiative or project will be supported.

To guarantee a fair distribution across NSW Health, there is a maximum of 5 applications per organisation.

The Host Organisation agrees to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and share information with the Ministry of Health for distribution.

See the funding guidelines for full details of eligible applicants.

Applicants are required to demonstrate initiative or project alignment to one of the following areas:

• Clinical care transformation: including but not limited to carbon hotspot areas of anaesthetics, metered dose inhalers and critical care emissions

• Travel and transport: including but not limited to staff, patient and business transport emissions reductions and innovations to reduce care related

• Energy and Assets: including but not limited to energy efficiency, energy consumption reduction, resource (including gas use) emissions reduction, water consumption reduction

• Procurement and Waste: improve processes, reduce waste and/or emissions related to procurement practices

• Pharmaceuticals and Medicines: improve quality, safety and reduce emissions in prescribing; reduce waste and/or emissions in medications management

See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible projects and expenditure.

Grants may be used for capital and other expenses directly related to the delivery of eligible projects that support job creation and/or retention. This may include:

• purchasing, constructing, installing and/or commissioning new plant, equipment and/or machinery
• purchasing, constructing, establishing and/or fitting out new facilities, buildings or hubs
• purchasing technology and/or intellectual property (IP) required to undertake the project
• purchase of land (if necessary for the project and suitable alternatives to rent do not exist)
• upgrading existing facilities, buildings, plant, equipment, machinery and/or technology where necessary to deliver the project and achieve its outcomes
• cost of contractors to construct new buildings and facilities
• costs relating to activities that directly contribute to, or enable knowledge sharing (i.e. reports, database development)
• project management and administration costs up to 10% of project cost
• contingency costs up to 25% of project cost

The following costs are ineligible unless otherwise agreed by DRNSW:

• contributions made ‘in-kind’
• repayment of existing debts or budget deficits
• administrative, operational and maintenance costs not related to the project
• ongoing staff wages and salaries
• ongoing rental expenses, unless they form a small part of a larger project that anchors the applicant to the location
• non-fixed equipment, unless it forms a small part of a larger project that anchors the applicant to the location
• costs already funded by insurance or other NSW or Australian Government programs
• costs that have been incurred prior to the applicant receiving a Letter of Offer of grant funding
• costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation
• costs that require recurrent or ongoing funding from the NSW Government
• costs relating solely to marketing, advertising or product promotion, including education and information campaigns

See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.

Completion of the application requires the following information/documentation:

• applicant details, including role and contact details
• project tile and description, including the focus areas
• applicant manager or sponsor who has provided approval and support
• host organisation chief executive who has provided approval and support
• project team members, including their role and host organisation
• details of project partners or representatives outside of the host organisation
• budget request with a maximum budget of $30,000

Applications are submitted online via the SmartyGrants portal.

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