We are delighted to announce an ongoing collaboration with the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) following the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) this month.

The MoU describes a five-year partnership designed to achieve greater awareness of the pervasive yet largely preventable problem of skin tears, and to improve the performance of healthcare systems and patient outcomes.

The agreement formally recognises the value each organisation brings to the global healthcare setting: Wounds Australia as a leader in wound education, awareness and advocacy in the southern hemisphere, and ISTAP as driver of leadership excellence in skin tear management and prevention worldwide.

Wounds Australia Chief Executive Jeff Antcliff said the collaboration would bring significant opportunities to orevent skin tears and improve healing rates.

"Broadly speaking, our organisations have the same mission: to help prevent and heal wounds," Mr Antcliff said. "By sharing knowledge, delivering high-quality professional learning to more people, and working together to raise awareness of the global problem of skin tears, we stand to maximise our mutual reach and impact.

"It is our privilege to unite with ISTAP on this important subject and we look forward to a productive relationship."

ISTAP President Professor Karen Ousey said: "We are thrilled to welcome Wounds Australia as a partner to advance our mission of creating a world without skin tears. Skin tears disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, yet they are often preventable with the right interventions. Together, we can broaden our reach and improve care for those at risk of skin tears worldwide."

The MoU sets out a broad direction for future activity that includes co-produced learning events, biennial knowledge-sharing sessions and contributions to national conferences.

Read more about ISTAP at www.skintears.org