Volume 32 Number 4

As Chair of the Board of Wounds Australia, and with more than 20 years as a committed member of Wounds Australia and its predecessor, the Australian Wound Management Association, it is with immense pleasure that I reflect on our 30-year journey and the tremendous success of our recent national conference. This milestone marks, not only three decades of leadership in wound prevention, education, and care, but also the remarkable evolution of an organisation that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and education. Our position as the national peak body for the prevention, treatment, management, and healing of wounds is well established, and our strong connection with government was acknowledged with the awarding of a $2million grant to deliver a consumer awareness campaign.

This year’s conference brought together 972 attendees from 17 countries, a vibrant and diverse community of professionals dedicated to improving wound care outcomes. With 46 esteemed speakers and 170 abstracts submitted, the program was a testament to the robust research and clinical excellence in our field not only in Australia, but across the globe for people caring for people with wounds, or at risk of a wound.

Delegates engaged with a dynamic agenda featuring three plenary sessions, a thought-provoking (and entertaining) debate, 20 concurrent streams, and hands-on masterclasses, workshops, and seminars. The exchange of ideas and expertise truly encapsulated the spirit of our conference theme: celebrating 30 years of progress and partnerships. Our new World of Wounds theatrette sessions were considered by our delegates to be a fantastic education opportunity that fostered further interaction and collaboration with colleagues.

Feedback from our attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with 87% rating the exhibition as highly satisfactory to excellent. This reflects the tireless efforts of our team and the commitment of our industry partners to deliver a world-class event.

As we honour our past, we are equally inspired by the future. The knowledge shared and connections forged during this conference will undoubtedly shape the next chapter of wound care innovation. Together, we are advancing evidence-based practice, driving education, and championing improved health outcomes for people affected by wounds. The important work Wounds Australia undertakes for our clinicians and our community is guided by five key principles that have served us well in the past and will continue to serve us well int the future:

• Our actions are informed by evidence;
• We collaborate with patients, carers, families, health professionals, government and industry;
• We acknowledge the social determinants of health;
• We are continually improving;
• We operate within our code of conduct and in an ethical manner.

Thankyou to our members, industry partners, and supporters who have been integral to our success. Here’s to the next 30 years of leading the way in wound care excellence.

Author(s)

Kerry May
Chair, Wounds Australia Board