To celebrate 60 years of Diabetes WA, we catch up with one of our diabetes educators, LAURA MARTIN, who holds community workshops in the Wheatbelt that educate and empower people living with diabetes. 

“I first came to work in the Wheatbelt as a dietitian from South Australia ten years ago. During my first few years here, I noticed that a high number of my clients were living with diabetes and so I went back to study diabetes education at Diabetes WA so that I could better support them.

It was one of the first up-skilling courses I took. I remember going to DWA’s Subiaco office for the training with other health professionals and then starting the quality development training with a DESMOND assessor. It was good to self-reflect on my progress and get feedback from others.

I have now been involved with delivering the DESMOND program, which is an interactive workshop for people living with type 2 diabetes, for ten years. DESMOND stands for Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed, and it’s a great way for people to learn more about diabetes, meet others and feel more confident about managing their health. It’s suitable for people who have recently been diagnosed, or those who have been living with diabetes for years.

Here in the Wheatbelt, we mostly deliver DESMOND as a one-day group program, although it can also be delivered over two days. It is always a great day that encourages all our attendees to share their story and diabetes journey with each other through topics and sessions that we, as DESMOND Facilitators, guide.

There are activities to keep the day interesting, including food models and a model of the body to talk about how diabetes works, along with take-home information for participants to look back on.

We look at what happens in the body with diabetes, blood glucose monitoring and medications and preventing or managing long-term complications. We also cover healthy food choices and physical activity, and every participant leaves with a personalised plan.

In my experience, people often remember the information and feel more empowered to make changes when they have discovered the answer to a question themselves.

In terms of feedback, I find that people are pleased with the program and how it is delivered. The training has been designed to involve and engage all attendees in conversation and learning rather than asking them to sit and listen to information about diabetes all day.

It’s also really powerful for people to share stories and learn from each other as it is those participants and their loved ones who are living with the condition daily.

The more programs we can offer in rural areas, the more opportunity we have to assist and support those who would benefit from them.”

Are you a health professional wanting to make an impact on the lives of people living with diabetes in your community?

As part of our commitment to supporting self-management and education, Diabetes WA is seeking passionate and knowledgeable health professionals to facilitate group education workshops across WA– particularly in regional and remote areas.

These workshops aim to empower participants with practical skills, confidence and community support. 

We offer a range of programs, including: 

• Full-day comprehensive workshops 

• Shorter, topic-specific sessions (2-3 hours) 

We’re looking for health professionals who

• Are credentialled diabetes educators, dietitians, nurses, podiatrists or allied health professionals. 

• Are available to complete the facilitator training and accreditation process. 

• Can commit to delivering a minimum of three workshops per year. 

• Are passionate about person-centred care and community health. 

If you’re interested in learning more or would like to express interest, please reply to this email or contact us at training@diabeteswa.com.au 

We invite you to walk with us alongside people living with diabetes as we continue our support for individuals throughout Western Australia.