Scholarships

Louise Gilbey, based in Mount Isa, Queensland, has achieved this milestone after completing ADEA’s rigorous credentialling pathway. Ms Gilbey was the recipient of the 2022 ADEA Research and Dixie Klemm Scholarship, which supported her in postgraduate studies and completing the ADEA credentialling pathway. After finishing her Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management at the University of Technology Sydney, Ms Gilbey successfully undertook the ADEA credentialling program and is now a CDE. As a proud Alyawarre woman, Ms Gilbey has worked as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner for more than 20 years. At the time of receiving the scholarship, Ms Gilbey said, ‘I have always had a passion for working within Aboriginal health, particularly with chronic conditions, and feel that the next step for me is to specialise in diabetes education, prevention and management’. ‘This will enable me to pass my education on to the community in a culturally sensitive and appropriate way,’ she said. Ms Gilbey said she aimed to use her new qualifications to continue working across rural and remote areas in Queensland and the NT to deliver culturally friendly and appropriate education that is relevant to that community. ADEA CEO Susan Davidson congratulated Ms Gilbey on her achievement. ‘We are incredibly proud of Louise for becoming the first Aboriginal Health Practitioner to gain CDE status,’ Ms Davidson said. ‘Louise’s achievement is not only a personal success but also a significant step towards increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CDEs. ‘Her dedication will have a lasting impact on the health of First Nations peoples, particularly in rural and remote areas.’ Ms Davidson said the achievement represented ‘a powerful stride forward in ADEA’s goal of ensuring equitable access to optimal diabetes care and education for every person with diabetes’.