Lymphoedema Association Australia IncorporatedRegistered

In 2023/24, the LAA were able to achieve our core goals: increasing awareness, providing support, offering education, and advocating for our members. These pillars guide our work and ensure that we continue meeting the needs of our membership. Our membership has continued to grow, and we are incredibly grateful to members for ongoing support, especially during these financially challenging times. Membership plays a crucial role in allowing us to advocate for better services and funding, as it gives us a stronger voice when engaging with politicians and other organisations. On the advocacy front, the LAA had a successful year, reaching out to every federal and state politician to highlight the need for improved lymphoedema services and funding. We were encouraged by the level of response, which led to several productive meetings with government officials. Additionally, we were proud to participate in the launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Lymphoedema, a new group which will hopefully prove to be another voice for lymphoedema into the future. The LAA provides support in various forms. For some members, it comes through facetoface or online support groups; for others, it s through our helpline, where individuals can express concerns and get direction. Our seasonal newsletter, Node News, and Information Days are also valuable resources that provide vital information and create a sense of community. The networking opportunities at these events foster support among attendees. Each year, we host Information Days in a different state, giving our members a chance to learn about the latest research, treatments, and products. While we offer hybrid options, we encourage inperson attendance to fully experience the handson demonstrations and networking opportunities. This year, we expanded our educational offerings by adding more webinars to our growing library. These are recorded and provide a wealth of information on topics relevant to lymphoedema, and we re eager to continue adding more in the coming year. Our awareness campaign, Shine a Light on Lymphoedema, was a major success this year. We saw 110 landmarks across Australia light up in blue to mark Lymphoedema Awareness Month, representing a fifty percent increase over last year. In addition, we expanded the campaign s reach through social media kits designed for landmarks, politicians, and organisations. Along the lines of raising awareness, we are also excited to announce the launch of a new GP guide for lymphoedema. It was created by an LAA working group during the 202324 financial year and is designed to help improve diagnosis and treatment within the general practice setting. This will be a fabulous resource for the lymphoedema community. This document is endorsed by the RACGP.