As part of World Diabetes Day 2020, Diabetes Australia has presented Outstanding Achievement Awards to three leaders in Australia’s diabetes community acknowledging their wonderful service and support for people with diabetes.

The Awards coincided with World Diabetes Day on November 14. This year the theme for World Diabetes Day is Diabetes: Nurses make the difference.

Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said the recipients had all made wonderful contributions to improving the lives, health and wellbeing of people with diabetes in Australia.

“We are delighted to acknowledge the contributions of Professor Trish Dunning AM, Professor Liz Davis and Jan Alford. All three women have helped reshape Australia’s diabetes community for the better,” Professor Johnson said.

“Given the focus on nurses for World Diabetes Day, it is particularly fitting that both Jan and Trisha started their careers as nurses.

“Professor Trisha Dunning has made a huge contribution to improving the quality of life for people with diabetes in Australia, and health professional education and standards. She has served in many voluntary roles for Diabetes Victoria, Diabetes Australia as well as being a Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation.

“Her work has had a huge impact on the way we support vulnerable people with diabetes including elderly people and people who require end-of-life care. She’s also helped modernise the way hospitals support people with diabetes and advocated to ensure people get the individualised support and treatment that works for them,” he said.

“Professor Liz Davis is the Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Perth Children’s Hospital. She has built an internationally recognised research program in paediatric diabetes and obesity and played a major role in developing and improving services and support for kids and families affected by diabetes across WA, Australia and internationally.

“Professor Davis has also been a driving force behind the new national Diabetes in Schools Program now being rolled out across Australia and helping over 11,000 children with type 1 diabetes get the support they need to thrive at school.

“Jan Alford has had a transformative impact on diabetes education in Australia over almost four decades and is recognised for her contribution to building Australia’s diabetes educator workforce.

“Back in the 1980s Jan had the vision that people with diabetes would benefit from receiving diabetes education from health professionals with expertise in providing that education. That started Jan on the road to developing a credentialing program with the Australian Diabetes Educators Association that has now accredited more than 1,500 credentialled diabetes educators.

Professor Johnson thanked the Awardees on behalf of Australia’s diabetes community.

“The diabetes epidemic is challenging and complex but the generosity and hard work of these three outstanding women is helping us to meet these challenges,” he said.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that together they have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australian families and for that we say thank you.