NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF A WOUNDS SPECIALIST
Reflections from the unstoppable giant in wound care
With
Professor Dr. Geoff Sussman
OAM JP Ph.D. FPS FACP FAIPM FAWMA FRVAHJ FCWCP
Adjunct Professor of Wound Care
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University &
Clinical Lecturer Medical Education,
University of Melbourne &
Wound Consultant,
Austin Hospital Heidelberg, Victoria &
Past President
Asia Pacific Association for Diabetic Limb Problems
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | May 2026
Professor Dr.Geoff Sussman holds a position in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, and is the Adjunct Professor of Wound Care He is a wound consultant at the Wound Clinic Austin Hospital.
He has been a faculty member at St Anne’s College Oxford University and the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Auckland University. He has been involved in wound management for over 40 years in clinical research and clinical practice and teaching and has over 200 publications including 48 book chapters.
He was Chairman of Wounds Australia, is an Executive Board Member of The International Wound Infection Institute, is the Past President of The Asia Pacific Association for Diabetic Limb Problems. He is an associate editor of the International Wound Journal, a member of the editorial board of Wound Practice and Research, Chronic Wound Care Management and Research journal and is a member of the advisory committee for Post Graduate Wound Care education at Monash University. He was awarded an OAM in the Queens birthday Honours in 2006 for his work in wound care as a researcher, educator and clinician. In 2021 he was a State finalist for Senior Australian of the Year.
He has been involved in sport for many years in Gymnastics, Swimming and Diving. He was the President of Gymnastics Victoria for 20 years and was the chairman of the Gymnastics Foundation, also Chairman Australian Diving Association for ten years He was also the elite team manager of the Australian diving team for 4 years taking them to the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 .
He had been in Australian Teams at 3 Commonwealth games and was the Team attaché for Mauritius at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
A member of Sports Medicine Australia for more than 30 years and has a wide experience in Pharmacology and drugs in sport He has been a member of the oping Advisory Control Panel for Swimming Australia from 1988 to 2005. And is a member of the International Powerlifting TUE committee He was a delegate to both the Victorian Olympic council and the Victorian Commonwealth Games Association, He served for four years as an executive board member of the Victorian Olympic Council.
Source: Supplied
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HIGHLIGHTS The power of social determinants of health, panel discussion
Clinicians and consumers know only too well that life circumstances such as poor housing, income and food insecurity can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Conversely, participation in community activities, social connection and access to nature parks and leisure facilities can help maintain health and wellbeing.
More recent phenomena in public health have also focused us on the health and social care connection. Stress factors such as the sudden loss of employment and social interaction, moving to remote work or schooling, and the impacts of sudden, localised COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ to prevent further outbreaks were triggers of increased psychological distress.
And loneliness is being described as our latest epidemic with chronic loneliness inked to a myriad of health problems and earlier death. A recent report found one in four Australians say they feel persistently lonely, and that loneliness costs $2.7 bn a year in health costs alone.
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FULL FEATURE Consumers and communities as agents of health care change and improvement
Policymakers, health administrators and clinicians must learn and embrace new ways to harness the transformative role consumers, community members and carers can play. Conversely, consumers and communities need support, capability and capacity to engage as equals in policy, research, program and service design. This is necessary if are to be less technocratic and realise the vision where all members of society can live the best life possible.
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Navigating the health system for mental health support
Senior professionals and middle managers are experiencing increased burnout and stress, leading to higher alcohol consumption, and there is a need for better support and resources for mental health and addiction treatment in Australia, according to Ruth Limkin, Founder of The Banyans and Chief Development Officer at parent Sana Health Group.
