Wounds Australia congratulates CEAP Chair and Clinical Nurse Specialist Melissa Freeman on being given the Australian Primary Nurses Association's 2024 Nurse of the Year Award in the Positive Disruptor category. 

In her acceptance speech at an online ceremony in December, Melissa described how systemic problems led to her disillusionment with the public health system, causing her to seek new horizons. In her own business, the Port Macquarie Wound Care Clinic, Melissa said she can be flexible, innovative and responsive in her nurse-led clinic thanks to a lack of the kind of 'red tape' that hinders significant change in the public system. 

"As nurses, we have the unique opportunity to not only care for our patients but also to lead, to be innovative, advocate and be positive disruptors for better health care systems," she said. 

Delivering 'kind' care

Melissa said she developed her own model of care at Port Macquarie Wound Care Clinic with foundations in the delivery of essential primary health care, health promotion and patient education, comprehensive assessments, and respectful, holistic support primarily in the home. 

Even after five years into her business, she is still asking questions and respectfully pushing boundaries when it comes to patient care. 

"I never try to fit a patient into a clinical pathway developed for a different type of patient – I develop their own," Melissa says. "Care should always be kind and individualised… and this is what our model of care is based upon." 

Innovation in primary health nursing

Melissa said she places a strong emphasis on continuous learning and professional growth and thanked her "amazing team" for their skills, expertise and support over the years. 

"It is such an exciting time in primary health care," she said. "We currently have nurse-led clinics being seen in such a positive light, we have impactful, life-changing primary health reform and nurses' scope of practice at the forefront of government. 

"To the nurses here tonight, never underestimate the power of what we do – we are caregivers, but also changemakers." 

Working with Wounds Australia

Melissa is a long-time member of and volunteer with Wounds Australia, and currently holds the position of Chair of the Clinical Expert Advisory Panel (CEAP) working on the consumer awareness campaign funded by a grant under the Australian Government's Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme. Wounds Australia CEO Jeff Antcliff congratulated her on winning this highly sought-after professional accolade.

"Melissa's expertise, experience and insights have been invaluable to us in our work with the consumer awareness campaign in particular," Jeff said. "Thank you, Melissa, for the work you do in your community and for volunteering your time to help Wounds Australia reduce the harm caused by chronic wounds."

Watch the awards ceremony

Congratulations to every APNA Nurse of the Year winner - a range of exceptional care professionals. Watch the ceremony on Facebook.