About Us

President & AWMA Rep: Nikki Frescos

Nikki Frescos is a lecturer in the Department of Podiatry,  La Trobe University and consultant podiatrist at the Austin Health Wound Clinic. Nikki is a strong advocate of a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to wound care.

Nikki is active in wound education and research. She has supervised several collaborative wound projects and is currently undertaking further studies on pain in chronic lower limb wounds. 

Vice President: Jan Rice

• Jan has been nursing since the early 70’s. Her passion has been surgical nursing, specialising in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nursing for 15 years. She worked with Wound Foundation of Australia from 1994-2007 and in 2008 joined La Trobe University-World of Wounds. Her role there sees her teaching, mostly in Victoria but also other locations within Australia and overseas. She has her own Wound Consultancy Service in which she is mostly working in aged care, however is also often called by surgeons to assist with more complex wounds. Jan also took the initiative to set up a wound clinic in a busy Metropolitan General Practice where she operates the clinic most Thursday afternoons.

  Jan is also the Nursing Rep for AWMA, currently Chairs the Education & Professionals Development Committee with AWMA and is on the Venous Leg Ulcer Development Guidelines Committee.

Secretary: Amy Freeman

Amy Freeman is a senior podiatrist and acting coordinator of the Diabetic Foot Unit at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. She is very passionate about the opportunities she has in her job to improve the wounds and lives of people with diabetes related foot complications. Amy loves adventurous travel as well as curling up on the couch with a good book and glass of red wine.

Treasurer: Janie Beckhouse

Janie Beckhouse joined the WMAV committee in September 2007. She is currently employed by Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) as a Wound Clinical Nurse Consultant. Janie has a keen interest in chronic and diabetic wounds and is predominately based in a wound clinic at the Rosebud RDNS site.

Membership/Secretariat: Dianne Carr

Regional Groups: Ruth Angus

Ruth has been working with RDNS for the last 10 years and earlier this year became a wound CNC at RDNS Springvale. Ruth lives on the Mornington Peninsula with her husband and two teenage children. Ruth's eldest, James, is 19 and completing his Commercial Pilots license this year while her daughter Sarah, 17, is just finishing year 11. Ruth emmigrated to Austrlaia 22 years ago and loves living and working in Australia.

Connective Issues Editor: Jana Gazarek

Jana is a podiatrist by background with a keen interest in the area of wound management and high risk feet. She particularly enjoys working with interdisciplinary wound care teams. Jana's current role is a diverse one - leading 6 Allied Health disciplines, of which podiatry is one. Jana's real passion is working with teams and individuals in the areas of service development and innovation, research and leadership development. Outside of work, Jana enjoys spending time with family and friends and travelling the world. Jana joined the committee in 2010.

Education Officer: Carmen Pout

Carmen is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in wound management with the Royal District Nursing Service, Moorabbin. She has a keen interest in chronic wounds within the context of chronic disease management and client self management. She commences post graduate studies in this area next year. Currently Carmen is working on the refinement of a Leg Ulcer Prevention Program. This is following the programs pilot study completion and reporting by the research department at RDNS Helen Macpherson Smith Institute of Community Health.

Public Relations Officer: Sarah Sage 

Emily is a dietitian who recently joined the committee. Emily has experience with the specialist Diabetic Foot Unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and currently works at Northern Health where her workload includes the High Risk Foot Service and also working with inpatients who have pressure and surgical wounds.

Website Manager: Felicity Blenkiron

Felicity is a podiatrist in the acute hospital setting, with experience in management of the high risk foot. She has a keen interest in improving service delivery and promoting support for wound care. Felicity is currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Wound Care through Monash University.

Professional Officer: Charne Miller

Charne Miller is a researcher in the field of wound management with the goal of expanding knowledge to prevent and treat wounds to improve the lives of those affected. With a background in psychology, she has post graduate qualifications in statistics, and is currently completing her PhD, her thesis exploring issues pertaining to informal caregiving. Charne is employed with Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Helen Macpherson Smith Institute of Community Health where she undertakes a range of projects in the wound management portfolio.

Committee Member: Linda Howell

Linda is a Clinical Nurse Consultant for wound care, who has been with the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) for the past 25 years. She is a lymphoedema practitioner who has a passion for education to staff, clients and carers in best practice wound and lymphoedema care in the community setting. Linda hopes to one day open up a combined wound and lymphoedema clinic as part of RDNS services in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. She also has a desire to set up a leg ulcer club for isolated clients in the community. Linda is developing an interest in publication and presentation at conferences to further promote best practice wound care.

Committee Member: Stephanie DeVincentis

Stephanie is a Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Stephanie discovered her interest in wound management early in her career and is passionate about the development of the industry. Stephanie has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Wound Care through Monash University. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys the company of friends and family; she loves to travel and is fascinated by other clutures.