Report: AWMA Conference 7-10 May 2008

Registrations
A huge amount of energy and planning went into the Darwin conference and that planning was rewarded with a record number of registrants attending. Approximately 719 persons were registered, with many registering in the last few weeks. This made for a very busy and stimulating conference even though it was particularly ‘squishy’ at times to move around the Trade and to venues for concurrent sessions. There are always many benefits from attending the AWMA conference, including the opportunity to network with colleagues, to meet with company representatives and to learn more about managing wounds and this conference certainly achieved these goals for many and probably all registrants.

Trade Display
The Conference was very well supported by the Trade and there was always plenty of activity and interaction at the Trade booths which reached its peak during the programmed break times. It was great to see so much interaction between delegates and the company representatives. Company representatives have stated how pleased they were with how may of those attending took time to visit and talk with them meaningfully about their products.

The companies also supported the stimulating breakfast sessions which provided a good start to each day, and the conference reception and dinner which were extremely enjoyable and very well attended.

Scientific program
The key note presentations covered topics that highlighted wound healing challenges, advances in scar prevention, the horrific injuries of war with the challenges of repairing the wounded bodies, and the tropical and emerging infections unique to the top end of Australia. The diversity in wound care and the challenges of providing appropriate diagnosis and treatment were certainly showcased in these presentations.

There were three strands of concurrent sessions and two to three strands of workshops each day so there was plenty of choice. Some would say there was too much choice however this catered for the many different interests of the attendees and allowed for particular learning needs to be met. Opportunities for discussion/debate were enabled during the question time. The education and wound management concurrent session provided some very positive suggestions to be followed up.

Workshops
Many excellent topics were featured in the workshop program - conservative sharp debridement, skin tear STAR classification, doppler training using ‘TIME’ principles to guide appropriate dressing selection, wound photography and wound measurement along with pressure ulcer prediction and prevention and VAC Therapy received very positive feedback and were all rated amongst the most useful sessions of the conference. Attendance at these workshops was capped, however sometimes there was standing room only.

Evaluation Forms
Thank you to all who completed their evaluation form. This information has provided AWMA with positive feedback and helpful suggestions which will assist the convenors of the next AWMA conference in Perth in 2010. The feedback will all be collated and forwarded on to the Western Australia Wound Care Association who will host the 2010 conference: Journey into New Frontiers which will be held at the Perth Convention centre 24-27 March 2010.

I urge you all to start planning to be there in 2010

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