The Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) undertook a move to change by member resolution in 2015 from an association of geographically based wound management organisations to a single, national peak body (Wounds Australia) representing all members of the previous associations. We are pleased to announce that Wounds Australia came into effect in November 2015.
With the nationalisation of AWMA into a new entity, Wounds Australia has a new logo as well as a new look to our website and journal. Wounds Australia is poised to provide more benefits to its members, and act as the peak organisation in Australia for wound management.
Wounds Australia has inducted a Board of Directors who are busy developing a new organisational structure and strategic direction. In the medium term Wounds Australia will also be seeking to strengthen its strategic operations and business functions through the recruitment of a CEO. We are re-shaping our education, research and membership committees into national portfolios and engaging members to participate in developing member-driven strategic direction through these portfolios.
The Wounds Australia board has identified that increasing the number of education scholarships/grants available to members is an early member benefit action it can undertake. This allows the opportunity for members to have support to access more education and training in wound management than previously offered.
Wounds Australia continues with a range of projects under way, either in development, completion or review phases. International projects, in conjunction with our project partners, include the Pressure Injury and the Venous Leg Ulcer Guidelines. Nationally, projects include the Aseptic Technique Guidelines and our major health promotion project “Wounds Awareness Week” in collaboration with the Wound Management Innovation CRC. Local branches of Wounds Australia continue to hold education events and host webinars on wound practice upskilling.
How will this impact the journal? Wound Practice and Research is a key service and voice, not only to members of Wounds Australia but also to the region, including New Zealand, the Asia Pacific and South Asian regions. Wounds Australia remains committed to producing and publishing the journal four times a year to support the dissemination of basic wound and tissue repair research, clinical research, case studies and evidence-based practice. In collaboration with the Australasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society (AWTRS) continued support for and publication of Wound Practice
and Research is an excellent example of how Wounds Australia demonstrates a commitment to our members, to high quality research and to the sharing of clinical views and information.
Author(s)
Helen McGregor
Chair of Board
Wounds Australia
