I’ve just returned from the 16th ALA Lymphoedema Conference – Lymphatics on the Rise. The ALA is the Australasian Lymphology Association and I have attended their conferences since 2014 as part of my continuing education. You can read about lymphoedema here.
It was held in Cairns, a place I’d never been before, but interestingly, it reminded me so much of where I grew up in Trinidad. The rolling hills, tropical rainforest, and yes… the sweat! It all felt very familiar.
This year I wore a few different hats, so it was a very busy few days.
My primary role was representing Lipoedema Australia. I had my pink shirt on all weekend and spent time at the stand with our Chair, Jen Bartlett, speaking with therapists and sharing information about lipoedema and the work we’re doing.
We launched the Lipoedema Australia Professional Registration at the conference and spoke to therapists about joining so that we can create a listing of qualified, lipoedema-informed therapists. Therapists gain many other benefits from joining and if you’d like more information please reach out either directly to me or Lipoedema Australia.
I was also there as an attendee, although I didn’t get to as many presentations as I usually would. That’s always the trade-off when you’re involved in multiple ways.
And then, I was also there as a speaker.
I presented in the Free Paper Session dedicated to lipoedema, alongside a group of respected colleagues – Jen Bartlett, Helen Eason, Dr Belinda Thompson, and Lucy Melican. Each of us approached lipoedema from a different angle, from lived experience and clinical challenges through to emerging research, including the ongoing issue of BMI being used as a measure in lipoedema (which, as we know, is deeply flawed).
In my presentation, I spoke about the conflicting consensus documents on lipoedema. At the moment, they don’t align, and that lack of agreement creates confusion for both clients and therapists. I used the opportunity to call for a unified national clinical dialogue, ideally facilitated by the ALA. You can watch the recording of my full presentation here.
One thing that really stood out to me this year was how much lipoedema is gaining recognition within the broader lymphatic community. You could feel that shift not just in formal presentations, but in conversations happening throughout the conference.
And those conversations are hugely valuable.
I spent time connecting with colleagues and peers, talking through shared challenges, clinical observations, and where we think lipoedema care needs to go next. These are the moments where real progress starts to take shape.
At the Lipoedema Australia stand, we had a steady stream of therapists coming through, many of whom are seeing a large percentage of their workload now focussing on clients with lipoedema. That really reinforces the need for ongoing education, greater awareness, and more consistent approaches to care.
We also shared information about our new practitioner membership, and it was encouraging to see genuine interest from clinicians wanting to better support their patients. Reach out to me or Lipoedema Australia if you’d like more information about the membership.
Overall, it was an inspiring and productive few days. Lipoedema is clearly gaining recognition, but there is still a lot of work ahead. Being part of these conversations, and contributing to them, is something I’m deeply committed to as both a clinician and an advocate.
After the conference, I had some time to unwind with a couple of therapists I trained with. We hired a car and explored Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest. Lots of walking, lots of sweating, and absolutely beautiful. We finished the day with a well-earned sorbet from the Daintree Ice Cream Company – such a treat.
My head is still buzzing from all the conversations, reconnections, and learning. I don’t think I’ve quite landed back in Sydney yet.
I feel honoured to have been part of the conference in so many different ways.