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A ‘Worm Farm� is helping the Rehab2Kids department at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick tackle the climate crisis by turning food waste into compost.

Pene Ingle, Clinical Nurse Consultant in Rehab2Kids and a sustainability award winner, founded the ‘Worm Farm� initiative in 2019. The farm aims to convert vegetable scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings and 'worm wee', providing valuable resources for gardening.

The idea for the ‘Worm Farm� first came up as a small action the department could take as part of their commitment to being more sustainable.

"I noticed how health-conscious our department is and the amount of vegetable scraps ending up in general waste so, I set up two worm farms. We allowed approximately four to six months to embed every initiative that was introduced,� Pene said.

“They require minimal maintenance and efficiently convert veg scraps into usable products like worm castings and 'worm wee'. This solution also nourishes our courtyard vegetable patch.�

From small beginnings, the farm has grown into a bigger, collaborative project, with families also actively participating in the initiative.

“Getting our patients involved was really important for us so we created a voting star chart that allowed them to name the worm farms. The most popular names were the “Wiggle Inn� and “The Worm Hotel�, Pene said.

"Many families, especially those from rural or remote areas, also regularly engage with our courtyard garden and worm farms and assist with garden maintenance. It can be therapeutic for them and it’s so lovely to have this community contribution.�

For almost a decade Rehab2Kids, one of the three specialised paediatric rehabilitation services in NSW, has prioritised sustainability within their department to create a better future for children. In addition to the worm farm, the team has embraced waste recycling and eagerly adapted eco-friendly behaviours like using keep cups and reusable water bottles, to foster a more sustainable workplace.

“We were able to take advantage of the facilities available in our department and make better choices. For example, having a dishwasher meant we could purchase melamine cups to use in our weekly Botox clinics for patients' post-sedation. This resulted in us stopping ordering Styrofoam cups years ago,� Pene said.

“We need to be doing everything we can to repair the damage happening on our watch and this can be starting with something as small as using keep cups.�

The department has implemented a Sustainability policy to continue its efforts of enhancing its eco-friendly initiatives. Recently, the Randwick Council Mayor approved their request for an additional worm farm, further supporting their efforts.

The Rehab2Kids initiatives are all part of Sydney Children’s Hospitals ÐÇ¿ÕÌåÓý’s commitment to minimising impact on the environment and leading the way in improving the environmental sustainability of the healthcare sector.

“Every little individual action counts. We should want our children to grow up with natural spaces, bees pollinating for food, and access to clean water and vitamin sea,� Pene said.

"Changing behaviors and mindsets can be hard but if you can champion the cause and be willing to educate and support your colleagues, you can make a difference one step at a time."

See how else SCHN is prioritising sustainability and how you can contribute here