ADEA celebrates milestone in diabetes care as first male Aboriginal Health Practitioner attains CDE status
- ADEA
- 16 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) is proud to announce that Josiah Little has become the first male Aboriginal Health Practitioner to achieve Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) status, marking a significant milestone for the First Nations health workforce and diabetes care.
The proud Bandjin and Djakunda man said achieving CDE status through ADEA's rigorous credentialling pathway has deepened his contributions to healthcare, strengthening how he connects with people, particularly men, who might otherwise avoid seeking care.
"Being a male practitioner has enabled me to build strong rapport and trust with men in the community, supporting culturally safe engagement with healthcare services," he said.
He supports clients to access diabetes educators, endocrinology clinics and other specialist services, and explains treatment plans in clear, culturally appropriate ways to improve health literacy.
He also works with them to understand how diabetes affects multiple body systems and navigate the broader multidisciplinary team involved in their care.
Mr Little, who is employed by Queensland Health, said he has focused on advocacy and education since becoming a CDE. "I continue to strive to be a voice for change by advocating for improved
diabetes awareness and culturally safe care," he said.
Beyond his clinical work, Mr Little has also been recognised for his broader contributions and talents.
In 2025, he was named a finalist in the Channel 7 Young Achiever Awards and appeared as a pianist and vocalist on the ABC iview series The Piano.
From primary health care to specialist diabetes education
Mr Little’s journey into diabetes education began while completing his primary health care certificates.
"I saw that diabetes featured prominently throughout the course content. As I engaged more deeply with the material, I became increasingly aware that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience disproportionately higher rates of diabetes in Australia," he said.
"This sparked a strong professional interest and motivated me to further develop my knowledge in this area."
Although he already had foundational knowledge of diabetes, he sought further experience by shadowing a diabetes educator and observing client consultations.
"On several occasions, clients sought my perspectives regarding their diabetes management, which reinforced the importance of building my clinical knowledge and confidence in this field," Mr Little said.
Recognising the need for formal qualifications, Mr Little enrolled at James Cook University to further his studies in diabetes care.
During this time, he worked alongside endocrinologists, nurses, diabetes educators, dietitians, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners.
Balancing study and clinical hours
Like many aspiring CDEs, Mr Little faced significant demands while undertaking the program.
One of the key barriers was managing full-time employment alongside the then-required 1,000 clinical hours and academic assessment deadlines.
He said support from colleagues and mentors was critical to completing the pathway.
"The guidance and encouragement of Fleur Kelly at ADEA, diabetes nurse educator Karen Lehrke, and my fellow Aboriginal health workers were instrumental in helping me remain focused and motivated," he said.
He said ongoing support from colleagues, mentors and university staff was also critical to completing his assessments and successfully progressing through the program.
Encouraging the next generation
Mr Little is now encouraging other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners to consider the pathway to become CDEs to strengthen culturally safe services and improve health outcomes.
"From my own experience, given the higher prevalence and impact of diabetes among our peoples, it is essential that we continue to grow and strengthen the First Nations workforce within this field," he said.
"As First Nations peoples and health professionals, we bring a deep understanding of our communities and the impacts of chronic conditions, intergenerational trauma, and culture on health and wellbeing."
Mr Little said he is willing to help guide future candidates and that a range of support is available through ADEA, Diabetes Australia, universities, First Nations student support teams and clinical educators.
His achievement builds on Louise Gilbey’s milestone in 2024 as the first Aboriginal Health Practitioner to qualify as a CDE.
Strengthening equitable access to diabetes care and education
ADEA CEO Melanie Morris congratulated Mr Little on becoming a CDE.
"We are incredibly proud of Josiah’s achievement, as it represents an important milestone for the First Nations health workforce and strengthens diabetes care," Ms Morris said.
"As the impact of diabetes continues to be felt across communities, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, growing a culturally safe and community-connected specialist workforce is essential to ensuring people can access high-quality education and care close to home.
"ADEA is committed to supporting more First Nations health professionals to gain credentialling as it is an important step toward strengthening self-determination and delivering care that is culturally informed and community led."
The CDE title is awarded by ADEA through a structured national credentialling pathway that combines postgraduate study in diabetes education, supervised practice, mentoring and workplace-based assessment to ensure consistent, high professional standards.
Learn more about the ADEA credentialling pathway to become a CDE: https://www.adea.com.au/cde-pathway
