Global Collaboration, Local Impact.

In April 2025, our Managing Director Melanie Funk travelled to Prague, Czech Republic, to attend the GlobalSkin Conference 2025—a powerful gathering of over 250 delegates who came together to connect, learn, and champion the global dermatology patient voice.

The conference was designed to elevate advocacy, spark collaboration, and build momentum with dermatology patient leaders from around the world.

Eczema Support Australia has proudly been part of the GlobalSkin community since 2019, representing Australians impacted by eczema on the international stage. This year’s conference affirmed our commitment to amplifying the voices of Australians living with eczema while simultaneously  learning from—and contributing to—a growing global movement.

Australia Represented

Melanie proudly shared Eczema Support Australia’s key initiatives and impact, including presentations on:

• Our Quality Use of Medicines Eczema Program, co-developed with national partners and health professionals
• Early insights from our Psychology Pilot Program, which is supporting the emotional toll of living with eczema

These presentations focussed on the power of collaboration, and sparked deep interest from other patient organisations, many of whom are facing similar challenges in their own regions.

A Special Honour: Patient Leader Award

A deeply moving and unexpected moment occurred when Melanie was presented with a Patient Leader Award for Collaboration.

This international recognition reflects the heart of Eczema Support Australia’s mission: to build meaningful relationships, foster trust, and advocacy, and bring lived experience to the centre of healthcare conversations.

While the award was presented to Melanie, it symbolises the strength and dedication of our entire eczema community here in Australia.

Insights That Go Beyond the Surface

This year’s conference went far beyond clinical care. Sessions explored the psychosocial impacts of skin conditions, particularly the stigma, isolation, and mental health burdens faced by those with visible or misunderstood conditions.

Highlights included:

• Personal stories from patient advocates living with rare and chronic skin diseases
• Research findings revealing that psychological impacts often outweigh the physical symptoms for many skin conditions
• Supported by the new GlobalSkin measurement tool Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) and findings from the Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD)
• Examples of community-driven support programs that are creating safe spaces and improving emotional wellbeing
• Strategies to advocate for integrated, culturally appropriate care, especially for under-served and rural populations

As always, mental health and emotional resilience were core themes—reminding us that eczema is more than just skin deep.

Why GlobalSkin Matters to Australia

Being part of the GlobalSkin community means that Eczema Support Australia:

• Gains access to emerging research, resources, and campaigns
• Shares the Australian eczema experience with a global audience
• Learns from the innovations and insights of other patient organisations
• Contributes to international initiatives like the World Health Assembly Resolution on Skin Diseases, which was successfully adopted this month to increase global prioritisation of skin conditions

These connections allow us to bring back practical tools, inspiration, and partnerships that benefit our members across Australia.

Looking Ahead

The conference left us energised and affirmed in our work. It reminded us that while change takes time, momentum is growing.

In the year ahead, Eczema Support Australia will continue to:

• Advocate for greater access to treatments and psychological care
• Collaborate with national and global stakeholders
• Support families, teenagers, and adults living with eczema through providing evidence based and trustworthy resources and fostering connection
• Raise the priority of eczema as a serious health condition deserving attention, investment, and empathy. This has recently also been acknowledged by the World Health Organisation making a monumental announcement, recognising skin health as a global public health priority

We thank GlobalSkin for the opportunity to participate in this landmark event as they also celebrated their 10th anniversary! And most of all, we thank our community—for sharing your stories, trusting us with your experiences, and continuing to believe in a future where everyone living with eczema can thrive.

You are not alone! Together, we are stronger.