Sustainability matters at Ramsay

When Southport Private Hospital Psychologist and Allied Health Team Leader Cas Mastrone ran a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training session at her hospital, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

It was such a success that Cas was invited to lead Ramsay’s national MHFA program. Since then, hundreds of staff have completed the training, building their confidence to recognise the signs of distress and support colleagues when it matters most. 

The program has created a growing network of mental health champions across Ramsay — fostering a culture where people feel seen, supported and safe to speak up.

Desflurane, a commonly used anaesthetic gas, has a significant environmental impact, with a global warming potential thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. 

In 2022, Ramsay Australia set a bold target to reduce use of desflurane to less than 5% of total anaesthetic gas use, with team members like Hollywood anaesthetist Dr Chris Mitchell leading the charge.

Since then, hospitals across our network have reviewed practices, engaged anaesthetists and introduced lower-emission alternatives. 

Today, almost 60% of Ramsay Australia hospitals have achieved the target. 

Since 2017, Joondalup Health Campus has partnered with food rescue charity OzHarvest to donate thousands of unopened, packaged food items left on patient trays. Instead of ending up in landfill, this nutritious food now goes to people experiencing food insecurity in the local community.

The partnership is a simple but powerful way to reduce waste and support those doing it tough. It reflects Ramsay’s commitment to making a positive impact beyond hospital walls by working with community organisations to address real social needs. Our teams at Joondalup have embraced the initiative, knowing that small changes in daily practice can add up to meaningful outcomes for people in need.

Registered Nurse Katie Foy saw how many unused medical items were going to waste and decided to do something about it. She launched Save Our Supplies (SOS), a program at North West Private Hospital that collects excess medical equipment and sends it to hospitals and communities in need, both in Australia and overseas.

SOS has not only reduced clinical waste but also extended the life of valuable resources that would otherwise go unused. Katie’s work is a powerful example of how frontline staff can drive sustainability and social impact, supporting better health outcomes while protecting the environment.

Through Ramsay’s annual Charity Challenge program, staff are sponsored to volunteer in developing countries, donating medical supplies and supporting local healthcare services. 

Frances Perry House midwives Christine Murphy, Eliza Strauss, Steph Tsesmetzis and Megan Whittle took part in the program by spending four weeks in Arusha, Tanzania. 

Working in a high-risk labour ward, they cared for patients, assisted with births and shared their knowledge with local midwives and doctors. Their contribution helped build local capacity while offering vital support to a busy, under-resourced maternity service. 

Ramsay’s people often go above and beyond — not only in their clinical roles but in their contribution to communities around the world.

At Greenslopes Private Hospital, urogynaecologists Professor Judith Goh AO and Professor Hannah Krause AO have spent decades volunteering in communities across Asia and Africa, treating women with complex and often painful gynaecological conditions. 

They have performed hundreds of procedures that would otherwise be out of reach for these patients, restoring comfort, dignity and quality of life. Both have been recognised as Officers of the Order of Australia for their outstanding humanitarian work.