Wound Care & Injury Guidance

The wrong wound dressing costs more than money. It costs healing time, patient comfort, and in aged care and clinical settings, it can mean the difference between a wound that resolves in weeks and one that lingers for months. Yet dressing selection remains one of the most confusing areas of wound management for carers, nurses, and procurement officers alike.

Australia has a chronic wound burden affecting roughly 450,000 people at any given time, costing the health system an estimated $6 billion annually. Behind that number are real wounds on real people, each requiring a dressing matched to its specific characteristics: the type of wound, how much fluid it produces, whether infection is present, and how fragile the surrounding skin is.

This guide covers the major wound dressing categories used in Australian clinical practice and community care. It explains what each type does, when to reach for it, and when to look for something else. It also covers dressing selection considerations for aged care facilities, burns management, and how to access the full wound care range through FAD.

What are the main types of wound dressings and when should each be used?

The main wound dressing types used in Australia are foam (moderate to high exudate), hydrofiber (high exudate, infection management), silver (antimicrobial for infected wounds), silicone (fragile skin, low-trauma removal), and island dressings (surgical and minor wound coverage). Selection depends on wound type, exudate level, infection status, and skin condition.

This decision matters more than most people realise. Clinical evidence consistently shows that moist wound healing, the principle underpinning modern dressing selection, produces faster epithelialisation (new skin growth) and better outcomes than allowing wounds to dry out. George Winter’s landmark 1962 research demonstrated that wounds kept moist healed up to 50% faster, and decades of subsequent evidence have confirmed this as the standard of care.

The challenge is that "moist" doesn’t mean "one dressing fits all." A wound producing heavy exudate needs a dressing that locks fluid away from the wound bed and surrounding skin. A dry wound needs a dressing that donates moisture. A wound on an elderly person’s forearm, where the skin tears at the slightest provocation, needs a dressing that comes off without causing further damage. Each category below addresses a different clinical scenario.

Foam dressings: moderate to high exudate management

Foam dressings are one of the most widely used dressing types in Australian wound care. They absorb moderate to high volumes of wound exudate while maintaining a moist wound environment. The foam structure wicks fluid away from the wound surface and holds it within the dressing, reducing the risk of maceration to the surrounding skin.

Foam dressings suit a range of wound types: venous leg ulcers, pressure injuries (Stage 2 and above), surgical wounds healing by secondary intention, and traumatic wounds with moderate drainage. They’re available with and without adhesive borders, and in silicone-faced variants that reduce pain on removal.

Brands commonly used in Australian clinical practice include Smith & Nephew’s Allevyn range, Molnlycke’s Mepilex range (which combines foam absorption with Safetac silicone adhesion), and Coloplast’s Biatain range. Each has slightly different absorption profiles and adhesive technologies. FAD stocks all three, which matters when a clinician has a preference based on wound characteristics or when a patient responds better to one formulation. Browse the full foam dressing range for specifications and sizing.

The clinical decision point with foam is thickness. A thinner foam suits a wound with light to moderate exudate and a location where bulk is impractical, such as over a joint. A thicker foam handles higher fluid volumes but may not conform as well to contoured body areas.

FAD’s team regularly advises facilities that have been using one thick foam for everything to trial a thinner, conforming variant on joint wounds. A dressing that lifts at the edges because it can’t follow the contour of a knee or elbow isn’t doing its job, regardless of how absorbent it is. The right foam for the wound saves dressing changes, reduces cost, and improves comfort.

Hydrofiber dressings: high exudate and infection management

Hydrofiber dressings are designed for wounds producing high volumes of exudate, particularly where infection is a concern. The fibres in a hydrofiber dressing transform into a soft, cohesive gel on contact with wound fluid. This gel locks exudate and bacteria into the dressing structure, preventing lateral spread of moisture onto the surrounding skin.

That vertical absorption is the critical difference between hydrofiber and foam. A foam dressing absorbs laterally as well as vertically, which can cause maceration around the wound edges if the exudate volume is high. A hydrofiber absorbs primarily into its fibre structure, keeping the periwound skin drier.

ConvaTec’s Aquacel range is the most recognised hydrofiber product line in Australia, available in ribbon, sheet, and surgical variants. Some Aquacel products incorporate ionic silver for antimicrobial protection. Smith & Nephew’s Durafiber is another option in this category. FAD carries both ranges across the full size spectrum, accessible through the hydrofiber dressing collection.

Hydrofiber dressings are particularly useful in cavity wounds, where the ribbon form can be loosely packed into the wound bed to manage exudate from within. FAD’s team regularly speaks with facilities still using flat sheet dressings on cavity wounds where ribbon packing would manage the exudate far more effectively. It’s a simple product switch, but the improvement in fluid management and healing trajectory can be significant.

Hydrofiber also performs well under compression therapy for venous leg ulcers, where maintaining a moist wound environment while managing fluid is essential. Clinical evidence, including Cochrane Reviews, supports compression as the gold standard for venous leg ulcers, and the dressing beneath the compression needs to handle the exudate without disintegrating.

Silver dressings: antimicrobial wound protection

Silver dressings release antimicrobial silver ions into the wound bed to manage bacterial burden. They’re indicated for wounds showing signs of infection or critical colonisation: increased exudate, wound discolouration, new or escalating pain, delayed healing, and malodour. Silver dressings aren’t a substitute for systemic antibiotics in established infection, but they play an important role in local bacterial management.

The international consensus protocol for silver dressings recommends a two-week challenge: apply a silver dressing, reassess after 14 days, and discontinue if infection signs have resolved. Silver isn’t indicated for clean, uninfected wounds, and prolonged use without reassessment isn’t supported by the evidence base. The most common question FAD’s clinical team fields on silver is exactly this: when to step down. Clinicians know when to start silver, but the transition back to a non-antimicrobial dressing after infection resolves is where uncertainty sits.

Silver is available across multiple dressing formats. ConvaTec’s Aquacel Ag range combines hydrofiber technology with ionic silver. Molnlycke’s Mepilex Ag adds silver to a silicone foam platform. Coloplast’s Biatain Ag and Urgo’s UrgoStart Plus incorporate silver into their respective dressing technologies.

The choice depends on the underlying wound characteristics, not just the presence of infection. A heavily exudating infected wound needs silver in a hydrofiber or superabsorbent format. An infected wound on fragile skin needs silver in a silicone-bordered dressing. FAD’s antimicrobial and silver dressing range covers all these formats.

One common misconception worth addressing: silver sulfadiazine cream, once a standard burns treatment, has been shown in clinical studies to actually delay healing in some burn wounds. Modern silver dressings use different delivery mechanisms (ionic silver, nanocrystalline silver) and should not be conflated with silver sulfadiazine.

Silicone dressings: fragile skin and low-trauma removal

Silicone-faced dressings use a soft silicone adhesive layer that adheres gently to intact skin around the wound while not sticking to the moist wound bed itself. This makes removal significantly less painful and reduces the risk of skin stripping, which is a serious concern in aged care and for patients on anticoagulants or long-term corticosteroids.

Skin tears are the most prevalent wound type in Australian aged care, affecting 41% to 59% of residents. That prevalence is the highest globally. Traditional adhesive dressings are a contributing factor: each dressing change on fragile, ageing skin carries the risk of creating a new wound. Silicone adhesion changes this dynamic entirely.

Molnlycke’s Safetac technology, used across the Mepilex range, was one of the first silicone adhesive platforms. It’s now the standard against which other silicone dressings are measured. Browse FAD’s silicone dressing options for the full range.

Silicone contact layers (sometimes called wound contact layers) are a related but distinct product. These are thin, non-absorbent silicone sheets placed directly on the wound bed, with an absorbent secondary dressing on top. The contact layer stays in place during dressing changes, so only the secondary dressing is removed. This further reduces wound disturbance and pain.

Island dressings and wound contact layers

Island dressings are self-contained: an absorbent pad surrounded by an adhesive border. They provide secure, simple coverage for surgical wounds, lacerations, and minor wounds that need protection from contamination. The "island" refers to the pad sitting within a sea of adhesive.

These are the workhorse dressings for post-operative wound management and general first aid. They’re not designed for high-exudate or complex wounds, but for clean surgical sites and minor injuries, they’re practical, cost-effective, and easy to apply. Available in various sizes from most major manufacturers, island dressings are stocked across FAD’s island dressing collection and broader wound care range.

Wound contact layers deserve specific mention. A wound contact layer isn’t a complete dressing. It’s an interface between the wound and a secondary absorbent dressing, preventing the secondary dressing from adhering to the wound bed.

When someone says a dressing "stuck to the wound," the likely cause is the absence of an appropriate contact layer. Adding one solves the problem without changing the entire dressing protocol. Silicone contact layers, covered in the section above, are the most common type.

Wound dressing selection in aged care

Aged care facilities face a specific set of wound care challenges that make dressing selection more consequential than in many other settings. Residents have fragile skin that tears easily, compromised healing capacity, and often multiple wounds requiring different dressing types simultaneously. Dressing selection is a clinical decision with direct implications for resident comfort, healing outcomes, and care costs. For a detailed guide on clinical dressing selection in facility settings, read wound dressing selection in aged care.

The most common mistake FAD’s clinical team sees in aged care procurement is facilities ordering a single dressing type in bulk and applying it to every wound. One facility was using the same foam dressing for skin tears, heavily exudating leg ulcers, and everything in between.

A skin tear needs low-trauma silicone adhesion. A high-exudate wound needs a hydrofiber or superabsorbent. A foam dressing on a fragile skin tear causes trauma on removal. The wound reopens, and the facility burns through three times as many dressings as it would with the right product.

Under the Aged Care Quality Standards administered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, facilities must demonstrate that care decisions, including product procurement, are clinically justified. A range of dressing types, matched to wound assessments, isn’t just good clinical practice. It’s part of meeting the strengthened quality standards that commenced under the Aged Care Act 2024.

Pressure injuries remain reportable serious incidents in aged care. Stage 3 and 4 pressure injuries acquired during care trigger mandatory reporting. Prevention through appropriate pressure redistribution is the first line of defence, but when pressure injuries do develop, timely and appropriate dressing selection directly affects healing trajectory.

Burns dressings

Burns dressings are a distinct category with specific requirements. First aid for burns follows Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines: cool the burn with running water for at least 20 minutes within three hours of injury, then cover with a non-adherent dressing or cling wrap. Don’t apply butter, toothpaste, or ice.

For clinical management beyond first aid, burns dressings need to maintain a moist wound environment, minimise pain, prevent infection, and allow assessment without full dressing removal where possible. Silicone-faced dressings are widely used for partial-thickness burns because they reduce pain on removal and can be lifted for wound assessment without disturbing the wound bed.

Burns hospitalisations in Australia peak in winter, not summer. Heating sources, hot water bottles, and cooking burns drive the seasonal pattern. AIHW data shows September and May as the highest months for burns admissions. This is relevant for facilities and community care teams planning wound care stock levels throughout the year.

Choosing the right dressing: a practical framework

Dressing selection follows a logical decision pathway based on wound assessment. The TIME framework (Tissue, Infection/Inflammation, Moisture, Edge) is the most widely used clinical assessment tool in Australian wound care practice. It was developed in 2003 and expanded to TIMERS in 2019, adding Repair/Regeneration and Social factors.

In practical terms, the decision comes down to four questions. What type of tissue is in the wound bed? Is there infection or signs of critical colonisation? How much exudate is the wound producing? And what is the condition of the periwound skin? The answers point directly to a dressing category:

• High exudate, no infection: foam or hydrofiber dressing.
• High exudate with infection signs: silver hydrofiber or silver foam.
• Low exudate, fragile periwound skin: silicone contact layer with light absorbent secondary.
• Clean surgical wound: island dressing or film dressing.
• Dry wound, necrotic tissue: hydrogel to donate moisture and support autolytic debridement.
• Cavity wound with high exudate: alginate dressing (gels on contact, suitable for packing).
• Light exudate, intact periwound skin: hydrocolloid dressing (forms protective gel, good for low-drainage wounds and minor burns).

Alginate and hydrocolloid dressings each have dedicated spoke articles coming in this cluster. For now, FAD’s team can advise on product selection across all categories.

The most common call from clinicians about dressing selection is asking for a clinical equivalent to a specific branded product in a different size, or a substitute when their usual product is on back-order. Most clinicians know one or two brands well but don’t have visibility across the full range of manufacturers. That conversation is part of what FAD offers. Browse the full advanced wound dressing range or read advanced wound dressings explained for a detailed comparison.

Accessing wound care consumables through the NDIS

Wound care consumables, including dressings, tapes, and wound cleansing products, can be funded through NDIS plans for eligible participants. FAD is a registered NDIS provider and supplies wound care products alongside continence consumables and other medical supplies through a single account. For a full guide to NDIS consumable funding and how to set up supply, read the NDIS consumables and first aid supply guide.

NDIS participants receiving wound care consumables through their plan are excluded from the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) to avoid double-funding. If you’re a support coordinator or plan manager with questions about wound care product eligibility, FAD’s team can walk you through the options.

FAD’s wound care range and clinical supply

FAD carries over 300 wound care products across 25 categories from six major wound care manufacturers: Smith & Nephew, Molnlycke, Urgo Medical, ConvaTec, 3M/Solventum, and Hartmann. That depth matters because the right dressing depends on the wound, not the brand. A supplier locked into a single manufacturer can’t offer the product that best matches the clinical scenario.

Wound dressings are the product category with the most customer confusion. People don’t know the difference between a foam, a hydrofiber, and a standard adhesive dressing. They want to buy the right thing but lack the vocabulary to search for it or the knowledge to choose.

That’s where FAD differs from a catalogue distributor. Real people answer the phone. The clinical team understands the product range and can match dressings to wound characteristics, suggest alternatives when a preferred product is out of stock, and support facilities transitioning to a more appropriate dressing formulary.

For facility or bulk orders, contact the FAD clinical team on 03 5443 2239 or email info@firstaiddistributions.com.au. For individuals and carers, browse the wound care range online or call for product advice.

Related articles

• Foam vs hydrofiber wound dressing: when to use which. Matching the dressing to exudate level and wound shape, with a quick decision table.
• Burns dressings in Australia: what aged care should stock. Which dressing suits each burn depth, what to keep on the shelf, and when to escalate.
• The Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme: what aged care facilities need to know. Why residential aged care residents are excluded from the CWCS, and what funds wound care instead.
• Wound dressing types explained: a practical guide. The seven main dressing types stocked in Australia, when to reach for each, and when to seek clinical advice.
• Wound dressing selection in aged care: the clinical case for getting it right. A detailed guide to matching dressings to wound types in facility settings.
• Chronic wound dressings: a practical Australian guide. How to match foam, alginate, hydrocolloid, silicone, hydrofiber and antimicrobial dressings to chronic wounds, plus CWCS access and ongoing care basics.
• Advanced wound dressings explained: when to use what. Foam, hydrofiber, silver, and silicone dressings compared, with practical 'use when' guidance.
• Specialty wound dressings: Zetuvit, Allevyn Life and Bactigras. A look at three named speciality wound dressings.
• Wound dressing basics: a beginner’s guide. Cleaning, dressing, and knowing when to seek help.