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About Us
Diabetes WA
Diabetes WA has a long and proud history of supporting the WA diabetes community for almost 60 years.
Today we are the state’s peak body for people living with diabetes and we inform, educate, support and advocate on behalf of the thousands of West Australians who live with this chronic condition.
The company is a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee which is established to be and continues to run as a charity.
Funding is provided by a number of sources including the Commonwealth Government, WA Government, WA Primary Health Alliance and more.
Our team includes individuals from a range of backgrounds including clinical backgrounds such as Registered Nurses, Exercise Physiologists, Dietitians, Aboriginal Health Workers and Credentialled Diabetes Educators.
Diabetes WA is the provider for NDSS services and programs in Western Australia. The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is an initiative of the Australian Government, it is designed to help individuals living with diabetes better understand and manage their diabetes. The NDSS allows any Australian with diabetes access to subsidised products, information and support services.
Our mission
Our mission is to transform the lives of all people who live with or are at risk of diabetes. We provide the essential support, education and services that will allow people affected by diabetes to live full, healthy lives.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Reconciliation Action Plan
Strategic plan
This strategic plan sets out our aspirations and priorities, and how we will deliver on these over the coming years. It provides a foundation for all stakeholders to understand what we are looking to achieve, how we will prioritise our actions to achieve it and the aspirations we have for our community.
Annual review
Diabetes WA releases an annual review following the end of each financial year.
Annual Review 2024
Annual Review 2023
Annual Review 2022
Annual Review 2021
Our governance
Diabetes WA Ltd is an Australian Public Company, limited by guarantee.
It is governed by a Board of voluntary directors, who are legally responsible and accountable for governing and controlling our organisation.
The role of the Board is to ensure that Diabetes WA achieves its goals and that, in the pursuit of these goals, it meets all of the legal and moral responsibilities and requirements of good corporate governance.
ACN: 610 729 612.
ABN:77 867 587 369
The Board meets and scrutinises strategic, management and operational reports provided by the CEO.
Commitment to best practice
Diabetes WA is committed to delivering quality programs and services and continuous improvement. We have been independently assessed by Quality Innovation Performance Ltd and have been Accredited with the QIC Standard Accreditation. We embed quality improvement within our culture, ensuring ongoing enhancement. Pursuing QIC Standard Accreditation helps us monitor our progress and by meeting QIC Health and Community Services Standards, we demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement.
Our board
MARY ANNE STEPHENS
MACC, FCPA, GAICD, CHAIRPERSON
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mary Anne Stephens joined the Board of DWA in 2015 and was appointed chair in 2020. She is an experienced non-executive director with more than 20 years in senior executive roles within the financial services, it, aged care and not-for-profit sectors. She has extensive experience in finance, strategy, information technology, risk management, audit and corporate governance.
Mary Anne is currently chair of Venues West and a non-executive director of HBF Australia. She holds a Master of Accounting degree, is a fellow of CPA Australia, a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (WA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
CHAD STEWART
Bbus MAppMgt(Hlth) MBA FCHSM
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chad Stewart joined the Diabetes WA Board in 2021. Chad is Deputy Director General for the Department of Justice, and has a wealth of experience in business development, strategic planning and project management within the NGO health and social care sectors having previously worked for St John of God Health Care, the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia and Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.
Chad has strong family links to the Noongar community and is a member of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and Wungening Aboriginal Corporation.
FIONA LANDER
MBH, MBBS/LLB (HONS)
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr Fiona Lander joined the Diabetes WA Board in 2019. She is a medical doctor and lawyer and is an associate partner with McKinsey and Company’s strategy consulting team.
Fiona has worked with government agencies, hospitals and other healthcare providers and insurers on strategy and transformation topics since 2016. Prior to joining McKinsey, Fiona worked in clinical medicine at Austin Health and Royal Perth Hospital. She also worked as a commercial lawyer with Corrs Chambers Westgarth and as a health and human rights lawyer with the United Nations.
During her time with the UN, she worked for two years in Mumbai, India, assisting the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. She has completed country missions in Ghana, Syria, Guatemala, Australia and Guinea-Bissau. Fiona obtained a Master of Public Health from Harvard University as a Frank Knox Scholar and a combined MBBS/LLB(Hons) degree from Monash University.
AVRIL FAHEY
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Avril Fahey joined the Diabetes WA Board in 2021. She is an experienced leader and manager in the aged, community and hospital sector having initially started her career as an occupational therapist. Avril has held senior roles at Silver Chain and St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospital, dedicating the majority of her career to working with older and vulnerable client populations. Along with the Diabetes WA board, Avril is also a director on the Western Australian Cricket Association Board and a member of the School of Business and Law Advisory Board at Edith Cowan University.
In parallel to her professional life, Avril also played cricket for the Australian Women’s Cricket team including a successful World Cup campaign in India in 1997. Avril continues to be involved in high performance sport, working with Cricket Australia as a National Selector.
Living with type 1 diabetes, Avril brings this perspective to her role on the Diabetes WA board.
DR BARBARA KING
MBBS, FRACP (PEM), AFRACMA, FACHSM, CHM, AAICD
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr Barbara King joined the Diabetes WA board in 2021. She has over 30 years’ medical experience in the public health sector.
Currently deputy director of clinical services at Fiona Stanley Hospital, she has extensive tertiary clinical experience as a paediatric emergency physician, more recently moving into medical leadership and management as a medical director at Perth Children’s Hospital and Albany Health Campus.
Barbara is an associate fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and a fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management. Her passion is supporting and building high performing, thriving clinical teams to provide the best possible patient outcomes.
CATHERINE RESNICK
GAICD
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Catherine joined the Diabetes WA Board in 2023. With extensive experience in strategy, commercialisation, growth and culture change, Catherine has been at the forefront of driving innovative enterprises in digital health and education, leaving a lasting impact on industries worldwide.
As a co-founder of KinChip Systems, Catherine has pursued her passion for improving health and care outcomes. By empowering consumers, streamlining clinical trials, and fostering collaboration, her innovative solutions have earned recognition and awards in both Australia and the USA.
Previously CEO and faculty member of The Churchill Clinic (Inc.) a Registered Training Organisation and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Catherine has held senior executive and board positions in the areas of mental health, youth, disability and education within the community sector.
NEIL COOKE
CPA, GAICD
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Neil Cooke is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) with significant experience in financial and commercial leadership roles. His skills and experience include strategy, transformation, governance, compliance, financial and commercial support with a keen interest in leadership and developing others.
Neil is currently the Deputy Group CFO of the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) where he has worked in financial and commercial leadership roles in operating businesses and corporate functions since 2011.
Prior to joining the RAC WA, Neil held a variety of senior financial and commercial roles at Unisys, a global technology company over 10 years in Sydney and Perth supporting the Asia Pacific region. Neil also has experience in the mining industry in corporate accounting roles.
Our executive team
MELANIE GATES
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SOPHIE MCGOUGH
GENERAL MANAGER – INNOVATION
DEBORAH SCHOFIELD
GENERAL MANAGER – HEALTH SERVICES
NICOLA CLERK
GENERAL MANAGER – PROGRAMS & COMMUNITY
COMPANY SECRETARY
ETIENNE SWANEPOEL
SENIOR MANAGER – FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
FIONA BELLAZZINI-EISZELE
SENIOR MANAGER – PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Privacy policy
Diabetes WA is covered by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles, which set out how our organisation can contact, use, disclose and provide access to personal and sensitive information.
We are committed to the protection of your privacy, and our privacy policy sets out how we handle information.
If you have any questions about the personal information we collect and how we will handle your information, please contact us or read our privacy policy. As WA Agent to the NDSS, Diabetes WA also complies with the privacy policy of the NDSS which is available here.
The National Diabetes Services Scheme is an initiative of the Australian Government administered by Diabetes Australia.
The NDSS agent in Western Australia is Diabetes WA.
Find out more about the NDSS at ndss.com.au or call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700
Disclaimer
Diabetes WA may from time to time receive sponsorship and/or educational grants from suppliers of diabetes products or medicines in support of diabetes consumer awareness raising, educational activities for health professionals, conferences and meetings, and other activities.
Where the third party supplier is a current or prospective supplier of products or medicines included (or which could be proposed for inclusion) on the NDSS Product Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or other similar scheme accessed by persons with diabetes that is funded (in whole or in part) by the Commonwealth, Diabetes WA provides this assurance that no third party supplier is entitled to, nor will receive, any advantage in terms of the provision of Commonwealth-subsidised diabetes products or medicines to people with diabetes or the provision of Scheme information to people with diabetes or health professionals.