Page 4 - annual review

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR AND CEO
What a year!

Over the past year, the Family Centre Board
and team set the groundwork for realising our

new, expanded mission: to reach and serve
every person impacted by type 1 diabetes in

Western Australia.

Now, children and adolescents Our Drive your Diabetes program, thrilled to be awarded the Outstanding
who connected with the Family which is proudly supported by Regent Achievement Award at the 2018
Centre during its first three years Motor Group and offers subsidised Australian Charity Awards. Our diabetes
will have the benefit of adult private diabetes education and educator, Amy Rush, was recognised
mentors as they transition from dietetics appointments to people aged for her dedication to her patients with
paediatric to adult care, and young 18-25, has had strong uptake and the Australian Credentialled Diabetes
adults and adults can access a new excellent feedback from young people, Educator of the Year Award at the
suite of services designed to build who love coming to our purpose-built Australasian Diabetes Congress. In
relationships, support and inspire. community centre for their diabetes addition, the Family Centre’s
care where they can access inclusive ground-breaking leadership and
In 2019, due to your commitment and social and peer support. community-building was recognised
support, we have made remarkable by Facebook headquarters. In her
impact. Together, we launched our The Family Centre receives no role as CEO, Bec was honoured to
exciting new initiative for adults with government funding for its work, so we receive the only Facebook Community
type 1 with allied health services, rely on and are deeply grateful to the Leadership Fellowship awarded to
HbA1c testing, a well-attended series generous people and companies who an Australian, and one of only 100
of events, information nights and contributed to our cause this year. awarded globally.
education programs, and an active The majority of the funds we
online community. Funding from the receive go directly into programs, We are immensely proud that the
Facebook Community Leadership awareness-raising services and excellent work by our staff has been
Program allows our team to visit community support, and we recognised for innovation and impact,
general practitioners and pharmacies gratefully acknowledge our both nationally and internationally,
to raise their understanding of type 1 corporate and community sponsors after serving our community for only
and awareness of the Family Centre, for their generosity – in particular four years.
and we are on track to reach 1000 Leeuwin Estate Wines and Telethon, We applaud and sincerely thank the
adults by the end of this year. Both Flametree Wines, Facebook and ARC Family Centre’s Board and team
of our online communities have Infrastructure. In April, we launched for their outstanding commitment
experienced strong growth and high our first signature fundraising event, and dedication this year, and we are
engagement rates, with an average Dogs for Diabetes, a ‘pawsome’ dog delighted to welcome a new face to
of 97% of members engaging weekly, walk and community event which was our Board, Dr Natalie Sumich; Natalie
making our groups a valuable lifeline proudly supported by RAC Insurance, brings with her a wealth of experience
for connection, information exchange hosted by Trinity College, and attended in general practice and her particular
and support. by people impacted by type 1 and dog interests are in chronic disease
lovers alike. Our community support management, mental health, women’s
We are delivering new and effective
programs: we’ve trained more than base continues to grow, with many health and sports medicine.
500 school staff since we launched our families and individuals running, riding, While this review is about our most
Schools Education program this year, swimming and holding sporting events recent financial year, we reflect on the
expanded our Babysitters’ Training to raise awareness of type 1 and vital correlation between the work we are
funds for the Family Centre.
to include a sleepover module, and doing now and the founding spirit of
launched our first online education We are proud that the Family Centre our organisation. When our Directors
carbohydrate counting course, is making a real difference. Our work first turned the sod on the Family
Cyber Carbs. is being noticed; this year, we were Centre’s land five years ago, it was

4 Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre ANNUAL REVIEW 2019