Thanks to everyone who attended a Beat the Swell event around the nation last week. It's our national initiative to spotlight the causes and consequences of lower limb swelling. Hundreds turned out to learn more and upskill in best practice diagnosis and management, at events in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Flagship launch in Melbourne

Around 150 healthcare professionals and trade partners met at the Rendezvous Hotel in Melbourne to hear from our expert speakers:

• Dr Elizabeth Webb, Lymphoedema Physiotherapist
• Professor Fiona Wood AO
• Stacey Bradshaw, Occupational Therapist and Accredited Lymphoedema Training Provider
• Nurse Mel, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Founder of Port Macquarie Wound Care Clinic
• Monique Bareham, Lymphoedema Advocate.

The evening also featured an engaging panel discussion that brought together diverse perspectives from across clinical practice, lived experience and leadership in lymphoedema care. The panel presenters shared insights highlighting the importance of early recognition and patient-centred care in improving outcomes for people living with lower limb swelling.

Our panel featured:

• Diane Fisher, who talked about her lived experience of lymphoedema
• Katherine Turner, President of the Australasian Lymphoedema Association (ALA)
• Dr David Goh, Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon
• Maree O'Connor, Lymphoedema Physiotherapist and PhD Candidate addressing early detection and intervention
• Greer Hosking, Wound CNC and Lymphoedema Practitioner
• Professor Fiona Wood AO.

Essity Watch Parties around Australia

The official sponsor of Beat the Swell, Essity held in-person events featuring presentations from Wounds Australia experts followed by an exclusive webinar with Dr Webb broadcast only at these events.

Great news: the webinar is now available for all to catch up on. Find it on the Beat the Swell homepage at woundaware.org.

Thanks to our amazing watch party presenters:

• Tal Ellis in Adelaide
• Lynette Rodriguez in Perth
• Matthew Dutton in Sydney
• Bekk Christensen in Brisbane

Our gratitude to Essity for their incredible commitment to making Beat the Swell such a success.

Wounds Australia CEO Jeff Antcliff said the strong attendance across the country reflects growing recognition of the impact of limb swelling.

"Beat the Swell is about bringing clinicians, advocates and people with lived experience together to share knowledge, strengthen awareness and best practice," Mr Antcliff said. "The level of engagement we saw nationally demonstrates the wound care community's dedication to improving outcomes in this relatively unknown area of lower limb swelling."

Thank you to our event partners

Beat the Swell is an initiative of Wounds Australia in partnership with:

• The Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery
• The Australasian Lymphology Association
• The Pharmacy Guild Australia
• Lymph Advocate
• Mole Digital Australasia – the creative brains behind the concept.