Inventor of 'spray on skin' and 2005 Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Wood AO is leading Wound Awareness Week 2024 (2–8 September) to highlight solutions to Australia's hidden epidemic of chronic wounds. 

Over 450,000 Australians have chronic wounds each year, resulting in avoidable pain, infections, amputations and even death. Chronic wounds cost Australian health and aged care budgets over $6.6 billion each year. The average patient faces $4,000 in out of pocket costs. 

This Wound Awareness Week, Prof. Wood will highlight the people at the heart of Australia's wound care system, whether they have a wound, are a supportive family member or a valued member of our aged and healthcare workforce. 

"Every day, thousands of people deal with painful wounds that could be healed with the right help from the right clinician at the right time, saving months or years of suffering. "We can solve chronic wounds by investing in evidence based prevention, assessment, treatment and education," Prof. Wood said.

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Interview opportunities:

• Prof. Fiona Wood AO 
• Wound Champions (below) 

Media events:

• 1pm (ACST) Monday 2 September: Adelaide Press conference with Prof. Fiona Wood and Prof. Allison Cowin (Deputy Director, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia) to launch Wound Awareness Week 2024. Location: Future Industries Institute, UniSA (X Building, Mawson Lakes ACT) 
• Tuesday 3 September, 12.30pm AEST: National Press Club, Barton Prof Wood will deliver an address to the National Press Club on the urgent case for wound care reform. 

Media contacts:

• Emma Noble, Wounds Australia: emma.noble@woundsaustralia.org | 0432 899139 
• Louise Yabsley. Watt Advocacy: 0419 249 236

Wound Champions:

People with lived experience of chronic wounds, or caring for someone who does, available for interview in-person and online.

Tony McDonald: An accidental cut while surfing led to painful chronic wounds (Central Coast NSW)

Keen surfer Tony McDonald suffered a 'fin chop' cut to his ankle while surfing at Crescent Head. The cut became infected and was spreading, meaning surgery was likely. Tony was supported by the South Kempsey Medical Centre and Port Macquarie Wound Clinic to stop the wound spreading further and start healing properly. It took 12 weeks of expert wound management but Tony's ankle is now completely healed – a stunning turnaround saving him from surgery. Read the story.

Isabella Fitzgibbon: Wound care for older people and their carers (Melbourne, VIC) 

Professional cricketer Isabella Fitzgibbon cared for her grandmother Shirley, who acquired chronic wounds after being diagnosed with mouth cancer. Bella and her grandmother struggled to find clear advice on wound care and to cover the cost of her treatment. It was through a process of trial and error – and with the advice of Bella's brother Jordan, a nurse – that Bella was able to manage her grandmother's wounds and improve her quality of life in her final months. Read the story.

Mia-Rose and mother Candice: painful and costly impact of 10 year old's chronic wounds (Wollongong NSW)

Ten-year-old Mia-Rose was born with a rare form of lymphoedema, which causes leg swelling that requires constant care and frequent medical intervention. Her ongoing care is expensive, requiring medical-grade compression garments and regular trips from Wollongong to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney. Read the story.

Background:

Wounds Australia is the national peak body for wound prevention and management. We are the voice of those living with chronic wounds and the health professionals who care for them.

Chronic wounds are wounds that have not progressed through normal healing stages within 30 days. People over 65 or those with chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes) have a higher risk of developing a chronic wound. Common types include leg ulcers and pressure injuries. More: woundsaustralia.org