ADEA member Aunty Grace Ward recognised for transforming First Nations diabetes education and care
ADEA congratulates Aunty Grace Ward on receiving the prestigious 2026 Individual Champion Award from the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) on 22 September, recognising her legacy of empowerment, innovation and lasting impact in First Nations diabetes education and care.
The longstanding ADEA member, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Adjunct Fellow and Lead Diabetes Educator for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement at Diabetes Australia accepted the award during the NAATSIHWP National Conference in Melbourne on the Lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
In a statement, NAATSIHWP said the award recognises Aunty Grace's significant contributions to workforce development, culturally responsive healthcare and system reform.
"Aunty Grace, a longstanding NAATSIHWP member, has been a driving force in advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diabetes education and care across Australia.
"Through her leadership, mentoring and advocacy, she has helped increase Indigenous representation in diabetes education, removed barriers to advanced practice and championed policy changes that expanded career pathways for Aboriginal Health Practitioners.
"Aunty Grace's legacy is one of empowerment, innovation and lasting impact."
She told ADEA that the award "reflects a journey shaped by persistence, advocacy, mentoring, and the unwavering support and belief of colleagues, family, and friends in advancing credentialling opportunities for Aboriginal Health Practitioners".
"Personally, this recognition holds deep personal significance," she said.
"Losing two siblings to diabetes-related complications has inspired a lifelong commitment to ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have access to diabetes education and care that is culturally safe, responsive, and grounded in community needs."
Reflecting on her time in diabetes education and care, Aunty Grace said her proudest moment was seeing Louise Gilbey become the first Aboriginal Health Practitioner to achieve status as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE).
"Her achievement reflected not only her dedication and hard work but also the support of many people and organisations, including NAATSIHWP, Indigenous Allied Health Australia, the teaching staff at UTS, ADEA mentors, and family friends who contributed scholarship support along the way," she said.
Aunty Grace said a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diabetes workforce is critical to improving health outcomes by providing culturally safe, responsive and community-centred care.
Looking ahead, she encouraged other Aboriginal Health Practitioners to see further higher education in diabetes care as "more than a qualification".
"It is an opportunity to influence and improve the way diabetes care is delivered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," she said.
"The clinical knowledge and skills can be taught, but your greatest strengths are the cultural knowledge, community relationships, and lived experience that only you can bring.
"These qualities are invaluable in delivering culturally safe and responsive care.
"By taking this path, you not only invest in your own professional growth but also inspire others and contribute to building a stronger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce."
In his congratulatory letter to Aunty Grace, NAATSIHWP CEO Karl Briscoe said her colleagues "view you as someone who has opened pathways for others to follow and whose work has created lasting change for communities, students and the profession".
Earlier in 2026, Aunty Grace was part of a team that received a national citation in the Australian Awards for University Teaching for developing a pioneering education model within an ADEA-accredited course designed to improve outcomes for First Nations diabetes students and the communities they will serve.
Her NAATSIHWP Individual Champion Award adds to a career dedicated to strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and improving access to culturally safe diabetes education and care.
