Australian Diabetes Educators Association
Celebrating the 2024 CDEs of the Year
ADEA is excited to announce the launch of a series of feature articles celebrating the 2024 CDE of the Year award recipients. The winners, who were announced at the Australasian Diabetes Congress in August in Perth, have demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving diabetes care in their communities. This initiative aims to showcase their incredible achievements and contributions. Each feature article will be rolled out and added across the coming weeks, highlighting the diverse and innovative approaches each CDE has taken to support people living with diabetes, fostering better health outcomes across Australia. The awards are run by ADEA with financial support from global research-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
Meet the winners
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander CDE of the Year: Jade Kelly leads with culturally centred diabetes care
Jade Kelly’s dedication to improving diabetes care through culturally safe and inclusive practices has earned her the honour of being named the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CDE of the Year.
A proud Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wemba woman, Ms Kelly combines her cultural knowledge, clinical expertise, and deep commitment to closing the health gap to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities along the Murray River region.
People’s Choice CDE of the Year: Swarnamalie Jayakody Arachchige recognised for empowering diabetes education
Swarnamalie Jayakody Arachchige’s exceptional dedication to diabetes education has earned her the inaugural People’s Choice CDE of the Year Award.
With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare—spanning Sri Lanka and Australia—Ms Arachchige has made significant contributions to improving the lives of people living with diabetes through her personalised and resourceful approach to care.
Early Career CDE of the Year: Trent Lyon inspires with culturally informed diabetes education and care
Trent Lyon’s dedication to culturally safe and inclusive practices in diabetes care and education has earned him the honour of being the inaugural recipient of the Early Career CDE of the Year Award.
As a proud Yugambeh man from the Wanggeriburra clan in Southeast Queensland, Mr Lyon draws inspiration from his family, culture, and a deep desire to improve diabetes outcomes and well-being within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
South Australian and Jan Baldwin National CDE of the Year: Julie Kha honoured for commitment to diabetes education and advocacy
Reflecting on her journey, Julie Kha describes it as serendipitous that her early years as a pharmacist coincided with a groundbreaking era when different primary professions, aside from the predominant nursing profession at the time, became CDEs.
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Inspired by the pioneering work of her mentor and friend, Kirrily Chambers—Australia’s first pharmacist CDE—she witnessed firsthand the powerful impact that Ms Chambers had on people living with diabetes and their families.
With encouragement from Ms Chambers, Ms Kha became a pharmacist CDE, obtaining the Accredited Pharmacist status required at the time.
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‘I count myself fortunate to have Kirrily as a mentor, as I was able to see firsthand the challenges faced by people with diabetes and their families,’ she says.
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Later in her career, she and her colleague Cindy Tolba co-chaired the ADEA SA Branch, where they supported other CDEs and helped further the education and empowerment of clients, families, and the broader community.
Queensland CDE of the Year: Louise Moran honoured for her dedication to diabetes care and advocacy
Louise Moran has built a distinguished career caring for people living with diabetes, driven by her passion for creating supportive partnerships in diabetes education and management.
Her longstanding work in renal health highlighted the growing link between diabetes and kidney failure, setting her on the path to becoming a CDE.
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Beginning in 1999, Ms Moran witnessed diabetic nephropathy surpass hypertension as the leading cause of end-stage kidney failure.
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By 2007, she had taken on the dual role of renal educator and diabetes educator.
‘My journey has been deeply influenced by providing dialysis to numerous individuals with diabetes and sharing in their stories and experiences,’ she said.
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This close involvement with people living with diabetes made her acutely aware of the need for supportive, therapeutic partnerships to manage chronic conditions.
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‘Such partnerships are crucial for potentially delaying the progression of complications and sustaining quality of life,’ Ms Moran said.
Australian Capital Territory CDE of the Year: Isabel Reeves honoured for transforming lived experience into innovative diabetes care
Isabel Reeves’s journey into diabetes education and care was inspired by her own experience of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10 when she lived in America.
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‘I was not allowed to leave the hospital until I was injecting by myself, but they couldn’t think of anything that might help a child other than to give me an orange and a needle!’ she said.
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This early experience motivated her to become a CDE and empower others with practical, supportive strategies.
‘It was pretty early on that I knew I wanted to help others like me to realise that diabetes does not have to be a death sentence, and it doesn’t have to rule your life,’ she said.
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Her dedication has now earned her the title of ACT CDE of the Year for 2024.
Northern Territory CDE of the Year: Deborah Aberasturi honoured for dedication to diabetes care in the Top End
Deborah Aberasturi’s journey into diabetes education began in the Hyperbaric Unit at Royal Darwin Hospital, where her work naturally progressed to the high-risk foot service and Diabetes Education Unit as part of a multidisciplinary team. With so much exposure to chronic diabetes complications, Ms Aberasturi formed strong relationships with people living with diabetes over long periods, which inspired her to pursue credentialling as a CDE. She said her inspiration for becoming a CDE came from wanting to help people understand how to manage their condition more effectively.