28 July 2025
Celebrating 75 years Down Under
We’re shining a special spotlight on Australia and New Zealand in 2025, as we mark our 75th anniversary in the two countries. From our beginnings in 1950s Victoria to the present day, we’re proud of our strong legacy in the region.
When Smith+Nephew first launched in Australia in 1950, Global Business Director SJ Clarke said in a visiting speech: “It’s not machinery that makes a successful business, it’s not the products, it’s the people.”
His words remain relevant 75 years later with our new office opening in West Melbourne. The new space brings our three business units and operational/supporting functions, from Commercial to Customer Care, under one roof at a central location that will help us go even further with our support of healthcare professionals.
Beyond the new office space, we have also been living our Life Unlimited purpose in the developing world. In June, our ANZ team delivered a three-day fracture management workshop in Papua New Guinea, in partnership with Australian Orthopaedic Outreach and University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The impact of injury in developing countries is significant. Limited access to healthcare can lead to untreated or poorly managed orthopedic traumas and result in life-long deformity and disability. As well as donating trauma equipment for the workshop, colleagues from our Sales, Marketing and Medical Education teams volunteered time with on-site support for local clinicians.
What’s more, we’re thrilled to see our 75-year legacy lead us to new horizons, as we become the first medical device company to partner with the Australian Orthopaedic Association. In our 2-year partnership, we will work closely with AOA to deliver enhanced medical education programs, clinical engagement and insights exchange focused on advancing standards of care and future clinical practices. The AOA has long been a driving force behind orthopaedic excellence in Australia and we are proud to extend our commitment to supporting the orthopaedic community through this alliance.
On the wound management side, we are proud to celebrate the partnerships that have shaped our journey and the future of wound care in Australia, across acute and community settings. In particular, our longstanding collaboration with Wounds Australia has been instrumental in driving national awareness of chronic wound burden, elevating the importance of evidence-based wound care into the national conversation.
Our Sydney office recently hosted an all-employee anniversary celebration event where we were delighted to welcome Ms Erin Phillips for a talk. As a Dual Olympic Champion recently inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame, Erin shared her experiences of competing in elite sport, zooming in on her inspiring journey of recovery from knee surgery.
We also enjoyed a panel discussion with industry partners about the technology shaping the future of healthcare, including AOA and Wounds Australia, followed by interviews with our longest-serving employees in ANZ.
We’re proud to celebrate 75 years in ANZ and look forward to continuing to deliver Life Unlimited to patients through our technology.