Wounds Australia is happy to announce that Melissa Freeman RN has been appointed as Chair of our wound awareness campaign's Clinical Expert Advisory Panel (CEAP). 

The Panel is a vital part of the campaign, which will be boosting awareness of wounds and wound care across Australia thanks to the Federal grant awarded to us under the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme funding round.

Melissa is Managing Director and Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Port Macquarie Wound Care Clinic, is a nursing academic and Indigenous student academic tutor at the University of New England, and is currently studying a Masters of Wound Care. She brings a broad range of experience to the Panel, including work at Port Macquarie Base, Armidale, Kalgoorlie and Esperance Hospitals.

Melissa was appointed by Wounds Australia's Board and CEO this week, and will be aiding in the selection of further appointees to CEAP. Those who have applied for the Panel can expect to hear further news next week.

Expressions of Interest for CAG still open 

In order to deliver the best possible wound awareness campaign, Wounds Australia is appointing a consumer group complementing the CEAP. 

The Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) is an essential component of our awareness campaign, providing valuable insight into how consumers access healthcare information and guidance on culturally and linguistically accessible communications. 

We are still seeking people with lived experience of wounds, and people who have helped a loved one on their wound journey, and we need your help. Ideal applicants for the panel are understandably already under considerable time pressure.

We encourage Wounds Australia members to chat discuss with anyone they know has potential to apply to provide reassurance about the limited commitment involved, and the significant impact their involvement can have. 

CAG membership involves: 

• minimum participation involves one meeting every three months (online) – any additional participation is voluntary
• members may choose to participate in sharing their stories, reaching out to their community or representing Wounds Australia at events
• members' time will be compensated with a $100 honorarium per meeting.

Anyone who is interested in discussing their experience or has questions can contact the Consumer Awareness Campaign Project Officer, Clare Callow, at clare.callow@woundsaustralia.org. Expressions of Interest can be submitted here.