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AWMA Committee Meeting March 2011 - News Release

AWMA Structure Review

As members may be aware, AWMA and the state and territory wound management Associations have been exploring their structure and relationships with each other. This has now progressed significantly and all agreed strategies have been implemented or are in progress.

Each state and territory remains a constitutionally and financially independent, autonomous Association (with the exception of the Northern Territory, which is a branch of AWMA). However, all states and territories are now more unified, alike and consistent. This is a major achievement in establishing and promoting a nationally recognised, professional brand for wound management across Australia.

This review has developed processes and operations that have united and strengthened the professional Associations supporting wound management in Australia. I’m sure, like me, your goal is to ensure that persons with wounds receive the best possible, evidence based care, delivered by skilled and knowledgeable practitioners. This Structure Review has built upon the foundations the Associations already have to facilitate these goals.

The following table details the progress on the outcomes. It is planned that all outcomes will be completed and launched at the AWMA Annual General Meeting in Sydney in March 2012.

Following the launch of these achievements it is planned to convene a new group incorporating national, state and territory representation to explore formation of one unified, national wound management Association with state and territory branches. This aims to significantly increase the professional and political force and influence AWMA can have. More information regarding these next steps will be released as it becomes available.

This is a very exciting and significant time for wound management, wound practitioners and the patients we provide care to!

Sue Templeton
On behalf of the Structure Review Committee
January 2012

AWMA
The Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) is the national body for wound management in Australia. The members of state and territory associations are automatically members of AWMA and are therefore entitled to AWMA benefits. AWMA has an independent constitution.

The wound management associations in Australia are set up as a Federation with independent states and territories and a national body.
Each state and territory:

• is autonomous and has an independent financial structure
• has a representative on the AWMA national committee
• pays AWMA a capitation fee from the membership fees collected
• takes a turn in hosting the biennial national conference with assistance from AWMA. A percentage of profits from each national conference goes to AWMA

The AWMA Committee
The AWMA committee is multidisciplinary. Following the 2010 Annual General Meeting the committee comprises:

The current AWMA(SA) representative to AWMA is Mr Paul Philcox

The committee meets four times per year to discuss issues of relevance to wound management, develop national initiatives and projects and foster networking and collegiality. The state and territory representatives provide a vital link between their association and AWMA. The AWMA committee members undertake significant work in their own time to develop wound management in Australia.

There are several standing sub-committees within the AWMA committee.
These include:

• Website
• Education and Professional Development
• Fundraising and Marketing
• Australian Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (APUAP)

AWMA responsibilities
AWMA is responsible for promoting and coordinating wound management at a national level. AWMA publishes the journal ‘Wound Practice and Research’ quarterly.

With the tireless work and commitment of many people across Australia AWMA has accomplished several major achievements, including:

• Position document: ‘Bacterial impairment of wound healing: From contamination to infection’
• Recommendation paper: ‘Inventory of wound/skin care products and devices’ for Commonwealth funded Aged Care Facilities
• Standards for Wound Management
• Australian and New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention and Management of Venous Leg Ulcers
• Draft Pan Pacific Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Injury
• Accreditation system for wound courses in Australia
• Structure review

Numerous additional projects are underway or planned to commence soon to keep strengthening AWMA and supporting wound management practice and practitioners.

Wound Awareness Campaign
In 2007 AWMA facilitated the inaugural Wound Awareness Week. This has now evolved into a continuous campaign aimed at increasing awareness of:

• AWMA (Australian Wound Management Association) and the state and territory associations
• contemporary issues and approaches to wound management
• best practice in wound management
• what dressing technologies can do or help with
• where the public can go to get help

In particular, a major focus of the Wound Awareness Campaign has been lobbying state, but specifically the federal government to implement a national product subsidy scheme. (Similar to the ostomy appliance scheme or the continence scheme.) Currently in many parts of Australia patients are required to pay for all their dressing products in community settings (including general practice, residential aged care, community clinics and domiciliary setting).

Conclusion
AWMA provides a formal link between the states and territories. AWMA has a vital role in coordinating and developing national initiatives to progress wound management as a specialty with a defined body of knowledge and skills. There is still much work to be done. However, the President, Dr Bill McGuiness and the committee are working tirelessly to build the reputation and influence of AWMA as the peak body for wound management in Australia.

January 2012