Healthdirect Australia launches innovative new tool to empower the health sector transition to low-carbon options

Healthdirect Australia has launched a pioneering new tool intended to improve the health sector's impact on the environment, which currently accounts for 5.44% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions — more than the aviation sector.

Recognising that what gets measured gets done, Healthdirect has launched a tool that enables the healthcare sector to accurately measure and report on emissions generated through the delivery of virtual health services. The tool will provide healthcare organisations the information they need to include virtual care as part of their plans to reduce emissions, using a validated method that can be used for corporate reporting.

The tool, which comprises a framework, calculators and emissions factors, was announced at the global digital health and health informatics conference, MEDINFO25 in Taiwan last week by Healthdirect's Sustainability Director Rachel de Sain, who demonstrated its application using Healthdirect's own data.

Healthdirect is the national virtual public health information service. It provides 24/7 health information, advice and connection to the most appropriate care options for those who are not sure what they should do next. For callers who may have thought they needed to go to the emergency department, 61% are safely diverted to alternative care options.

"Using the tool, we now know that Healthdirect's triage and virtual care services in FY24 helped prevent an estimated 1.85 kilotonnes of CO2e emissions — equivalent to removing 925 cars from the road for a full year," says Ms de Sain.

"We also found that for every trip to the Emergency Department avoided through a Healthdirect call, there's an average emissions saving of 10 kilograms. This eases the burden on emergency service resources and, in many cases, totally avoids the need for travel to receive physical healthcare," she said.

Healthdirect was recognised in the AFR 2025 Sustainability Leader Awards for this virtual health emissions measurement tool.

The tool is freely available to governments and the health sector. New climate regulations in both public and private sector mean health organisations must show they are cutting emissions. Without a standard way to track the environmental impact of in-person and virtual services, organisations have struggled to demonstrate the role of virtual services in supporting net-zero targets.

Developed in partnership with the University of Sydney and underpinned by rigorous research published in The Journal of Climate and Health, the new tool empowers health providers to estimate net emissions from both virtual and in-person consultations. It factors in variations in local travel distances, transport modes, and the emissions generated by virtual calls, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the emissions impact for each consultation.

Designed to be scalable and localised for Australia's unique geography and diverse travel behaviours. The tool is available for health services to help achieve their commitments to reduce emissions and support greater climate resilience by 2050.

Bettina McMahon, CEO of Healthdirect Australia, said, "Virtual care isn't just about convenience — it's a real force for climate action. Our tool shows how digital health can drastically reduce emissions by avoiding unnecessary travel and supply chain impacts, allowing health services to confidently transition to a low-carbon future.

"We now have the evidence to show that virtual health services are a critical component of sustainable healthcare systems, delivering high-quality care with significantly lower environmental costs," added Ms McMahon.