Our General Practitioners and Remote Area Nurses do a fantastic job but they can’t keep up with the growing impact of type 2 diabetes, and need the support of locally trained Aboriginal Health Workers who are specialised in diabetes.
We need your help to provide 10 training scholarships to Aboriginal Health Workers to help some of WA’s most vulnerable people. READ MORE »
This Saturday 14 November 2020 is World Diabetes Day. To mark the day, Diabetes WA is asking for your help to reduce the growing impact that diabetes is having on WA’s rural and remote communities.
The impact of diabetes on remote communities
Diabetes is having a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal people across Western Australia. In some Aboriginal communities up to 30% of people have type 2 diabetes.
- Diabetes is the second highest cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in WA with amputations, dialysis and vision loss caused by diabetes impacting significantly on communities.
- Type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal children has increased by 700% in the last decade.
- Type 2 diabetes in children is aggressive with 50% progressing to insulin within the first 5 years and diabetes complications occur much, much earlier.
We are losing the battle against diabetes in many communities. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Building an Aboriginal Health Workforce
By providing diabetes-specific training to Aboriginal Health Workers they can help diagnose diabetes earlier and help people better self-manage their condition – one of the most effective ways to avoid complications, stay out of hospital and live a full life.
Diabetes WA has already worked with Aboriginal communities across WA to co-design a culturally-adapted version of the popular DESMOND type 2 diabetes education program . Aboriginal DESMOND is the first of its kind in Australia and provides a pathway for Aboriginal Health Workers to be trained to deliver diabetes education that is regionally tailored for their own community. Diabetes WA’s own Natalie Jetta is the world’s first Aboriginal Health Worker to become an accredited DESMOND educator.
How you can help
Diabetes WA has a goal to provide 10 scholarships to train Aboriginal Health Workers by the end of 2021.
We are committed to working with capable partners who already have the trust and engagement of communities. Newly trained Aboriginal Health Workers will work across communities of need and work through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations which provide culturally secure, confidential and free services to Aboriginal communities.
It costs around $6000 to train and accredit one Aboriginal Health Worker to be able to deliver Diabetes WA’s Aboriginal DESMOND program. Currently this isn’t funded by government. The scholarship includes a week of program training, and two years of remote mentoring and support by Diabetes WA’s qualified health professionals and accredited training team.
This World Diabetes Day, you can make a difference by making a donation.
Your donation will help to ensure earlier diagnosis of diabetes in WA’s rural and remote communities and help people better self-manage their diabetes and stay out of hospital.
