Be Wound Aware has reached millions of Australians since launching in 2024, helping them better understand wound prevention, recognise the warning signs of chronic wounds and know when to seek professional advice.

End-of-year reporting by Wounds Australia demonstrates Be Wound Aware's impact, showing the campaign has delivered evidence-based wound care resources to millions of Australians to help stop chronic wounds before they start.

The following highlights some of the campaign's key achievements since 2024, exploring how it has reached priority audiences through strategic partnerships, targeted education and consumer-informed resources.

Expanding the campaign's reach

Australians access health information in many ways, so Be Wound Aware delivers information through television, digital advertising, social media, healthcare settings and trusted online platforms.

On this website, you will find resources such as factsheets in Australia's most commonly spoken community languages, alongside newsletters, videos and clinician resources. Partnerships with organisations including Healthdirect and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have further expanded the campaign's reach, while shopping centre campaigns alone reached more than 500,000 Australians and generated 2.7 million impressions.

Supporting key communities

Improving access to wound education has been a key priority throughout the campaign.

Be Wound Aware launched The Journey to Healing, its first campaign created specifically for First Nations communities. Developed with Aboriginal Health TV and Tonic Media and co-designed with First Nations stakeholders, the campaign reached 450,864 people through 180 Aboriginal Medical Services and participating clinics, where campaign messages were played almost 82,000 times. The campaign distributed a further 3,600 First Nations brochures to GP clinics nationwide.

Television advertising on the Imparja Network extended the campaign into regional and remote Australia, with 543 airtime placements reaching an estimated audience of 1.3 million viewers.

Clinical Expert Advisory Panel (CEAP) Chair Melissa Freeman CNS said accessible information has been central to the campaign's success.

"Creating evidence-based resources is only part of the challenge," Ms Freeman said. "They also need to be accessible, culturally appropriate and relevant to the people using them.

"By working alongside consumers and community partners, we've been able to deliver resources that helps Australians better understand wounds and when to seek professional care."

Listening before educating

Consumer research has shaped the campaign from the beginning. A national Consumer Insights Survey identified knowledge gaps around wound prevention, treatment and healing, while ongoing input from the CEAP and Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) has helped ensure resources remain evidence-based, practical and relevant.

CAG Chair Monique Bareham said consumer involvement strengthened the campaign.

"Consumers want information that is easy to understand, practical and trustworthy," Ms Bareham said. "By bringing lived experience into the development process, we've helped ensure Be Wound Aware resources answer the questions people are really asking and give them greater confidence to manage their own health."

Responding to consumer needs

Community engagement has directly influenced campaign priorities. Lower limb swelling has emerged as one of Be Wound Aware's strongest performing topics, leading to the development of the Beat the Swell campaign. Beat the Swell reached more than 500,000 people through shopping centre advertising, generating 2.7 million impressions and outperforming 85% of campaigns delivered across the same advertising network during the previous three months.

The strong response reinforced the demand for practical education on a condition closely linked to chronic wounds and delayed healing. Be Wound Aware has continued to build on this momentum through videos, factsheets, newsletters and social media content that help Australians recognise wounds earlier and seek professional advice sooner.

Building on success

The campaign's success extends beyond impressions and engagement. Every factsheet downloaded, video viewed and conversation started is another opportunity to improve wound health literacy and encourage earlier intervention.

With Be Wound Aware continuing through to 2027, Wounds Australia remains committed to expanding access to trusted wound care information and improving outcomes for Australians living with wounds.

About Be Wound Aware

Be Wound Aware was developed alongside the Australian Government's Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) to improve Australians' understanding of wound prevention, recognise the warning signs of chronic wounds and encourage timely professional care. The campaign combines evidence-based resources, consumer insights and strategic partnerships to deliver practical health information through the channels Australians use every day.