Nominee -Debbie Blanchfield

Hello to all AWMA members and thank you for letting me share my thoughts and plans for AWMA over the next 2 years. I have been a member of AWMA for 13 years, and have served on the AWMA committee in an executive position for 4 years, including working groups such as  the Venous leg ulcer guidelines group. Not only do I passionately support the aims of the AWMA but I have been working towards achieving these goals.  

In particular, I believe the key goals of AWMA are:

1. to escalate the national and international profile of AWMA in order to raise awareness of wound care issues and attract the best people
2. to gain improved patient outcomes by providing the best possible wound care education and standards to all members, whether country or city based.

In this age when health dollars are scarce, it is essential that we, in AWMA, focus on concrete objectives that provide value to our hard working members. Much work has been done by the committee and I congratulate them for that.

We are now entering a new era for AWMA, with proposals for restructuring and changing relationships with other organisations, especially the state and territory wound care groups.  I believe it will be critical to ensure that all groups are engaged in the process so that local participation can continue.  We are, after all, an organisation based on volunteers and their support is essential. If elected, I look forward to meeting with the state and territory groups to integrate our goals.

My past record proves that I can deliver on my objectives.  I have served on the Wound Care Association of NSW committee for 10 years, holding the position of Membership Secretary and President.  During that period the membership increased by over 300% and up-to-date education was provided to hundreds of members in country towns as well as city locations. I led the organisation for a number of state conferences, attracting high profile experts from Australia and overseas to speak and pass on their knowledge and experience.

I am a full time Clinical Nurse Consultant – Wound Care serving both Sydney city  and NSW country locations, so I understand the challenges of a wide cross section of our members and their clients.  I will bring that practical experience to the AWMA presidency.

I lobbied for and was successful in starting the first Leg Ulcer Clinic in South East Sydney / Illawarra Area which has been functioning successfully for several years. I  was responsible for starting the first Leg Club in NSW and I successfully lobbied for the recommencement of the HEMI advanced wound care course in 2004. Since then over 30 wound care practitioners have attended this course annually from around Australia.

I hold a Masters in Wound Care from Monash and have received a number of awards for my work, including a HESTA Australian Nursing Award 2008, IH International Nurses Day Award (Joanna Briggs) for improvement to nursing practice 2004,  Illawarra Health Award for Excellence for the Illawarra Leg Ulcer Project. I am a member of Toastmasters International and served in various positions including Area Governor.

I believe I have the ability and experience to help guide AWMA into a better future and I look forward to receiving your support.

You can contact me on 02 4222 5245 or email Debbie.Blanchfield@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.

Debbie Blanchfield

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