Page 4 - annual review
P. 4

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
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