Meet the team behind the Australian Institute of Lymphoedema.
Stacey Bradshaw – Director of the Australian Institute of Lymphoedema
Stacey is an Occupational Therapist with two decades of clinical experience in lymphoedema. Stacey is the past Vice President of the Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA) and Director. The ALA is the peak professional organisation that promotes lymphology in Australasia. In this role, Stacey, alongside the board of directors, have delivered new benefits to members, and continue to advocate on their behalf to facilitate better access to care for patients.
Stacey also is the owner of Stacey Bradshaw Lymphoedema Mentor, which provides mentoring support to clinicians working in the field of lymphoedema. Stacey has successfully worked 1:1 with practitioners to build their clinical skills, develop their confidence in managing complex lymphoedema, and to grow their professional networks and relationships.
For 17 years, Stacey worked in the public health sector in various roles. She led a busy outpatient lymphoedema clinic, and also piloted a multi-disciplinary team approach to the care of patients with chronic and complex lower limb wounds and oedema across the inpatient and outpatient settings. The team were able to present their outcomes at the Wounds Australia Conference in 2022. Stacey was also the Project Officer for the NSW Ministry of Health on the Early Intervention for Breast Cancer Related Lymphoedema Pilot which saw the implementation of lymphoedema services in a number of NSW public hospitals, and had led to a significant reduction in people developing chronic lymphoedema post breast cancer treatment.
Stacey’s original lymphoedema training was undertaken in 2007 and was based on the Casley-Smith method. Stacey has been committed to keeping her knowledge and skills up to date. With the advent of better imaging methods such as ICG Lymphography, we now understand more about lymphatic anatomy and drainage pathways. Lymphoedema massage and treatment has evolved alongside this knowledge. In order to feel confident that she is providing contemporary, evidence-based treatment and education to patients and clinicians alike, Stacey undertook further training in methods from around the world, and re-certified with Casley-Smith under Andrea Mangion.
Stacey holds a Master of Wound Care through Monash University, and is the Australian representative on the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) Compression Therapy Program International Expert Group. She is passionate about improving outcomes for patients living with chronic lower limb wounds and oedema, and is eager to unite the worlds of lymphoedema and wound care!
Professor Neil Piller – Director of the Lymphoedema Clinical Research Unit at Flinders University
Professor Neil Piller is respected around the world for his research on lymphoedema and is known for his kindness and passion towards educating others. Neil has been researching the lymphatic system since 1973.
Neil is a Lymphologist from Flinders University– which is a Professor who has dedicated their career to studying the lymphatic system. Globally, there are less than a handful of Lymphologists as it takes a lifetime of dedicated research to be regarded as an expert in this area.
Professor Piller is an executive member of the of the International Society for Lymphology, Clinical Sciences and Chief editor of the “Journal of Lymphoedema” (UK), a member of the editorial boards of “Phlebology” (USA) and “Lymphology” (USA).
