It was a great privilege to be part of a NZ team invited to the Australian Lymphoedema Education Research and Treatment Centre (ALERT), the internationally recognised centre of excellence at Macquarie University Hospital in Sydney. Dr Wei Lun Wong, Diane Lacey, Vicky Scott and myself were joined by Dr Jenny Roy from Adelaide, spending a week at ALERT with a focus on liposuction for lymphoedema and lipoedema. We spent time in the operating theatres and clinics learning from Associate Professor Thomas Lam, his team of highly trained therapists, and several of their university academic research staff. Special thanks to Associate Professor Louise Koelmeyer for making such a wonderful visit possible. Much was learnt that will benefit New Zealand lymphoedema patients. We look forward to an ongoing collegial relationship with our ALERT friends, and salute them for all the wonderful work they do.
