Grants honouring passionate CDE Tracy Aylen awarded to projects in diabetes prevention and workforce capability
- ADEA
- Nov 14
- 4 min read
The Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) is proud to announce the recipients of the Tracy Aylen Diabetes Education Research Grant Program, established to honour the life and legacy of former ADEA President and Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) Tracy Aylen.
Dr Stephanie Cowan and Dr Giuliana Murfet have each been awarded a $10,000 research grant for innovative projects that aim to advance diabetes education, strengthen workforce capability, and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.
Dr Cowan’s project: Optimising health professional education for primary prevention of type 2 diabetes in polycystic ovary syndrome: a partnership between Monash University, Monash Health and Diabetes Victoria Life!
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects one in eight women and increases type 2 diabetes risk fourfold.
Women with PCOS are underrepresented in diabetes prevention programs, with health professionals reporting low confidence in delivering tailored education and lifestyle support.
Our research within Diabetes Victoria’s Life! program reported that women with PCOS were less engaged and more likely to withdraw, highlighting barriers to participation.
Evidence also shows widespread dissatisfaction with generic guidance and gaps in health professional training.
Key stakeholders have highlighted the co-development of evidence-based education programs to improve health professional knowledge, confidence, and lifestyle care delivery as a priority.
In partnership with women with PCOS, Life! program facilitators and diabetes educators, we will co-design and pilot a digital education program for diabetes health professionals and Life! program facilitators for type 2 diabetes prevention in PCOS.
We will create practical, evidence-based, and engaging learning modules using iterative co-design workshops, prototyping, usability testing, and surveys.
This program aims to improve engagement and person-centred care through tailored strategies to meet unique needs in larger models of care.
Implementation through Monash University’s short courses, with ADEA endorsement, will enable national reach, promoting this scalable model for high-risk populations and providing equitable access to diabetes prevention.
Dr Murfet’s project: Strengthening the future: updating the Diabetes Capability Framework for a contemporary workforce
The Diabetes Capability Framework, launched in 2021, guides the design of diabetes education and training programs across Australia.
It is used by universities, health services, and training providers to shape courses for carers, health professionals and specialist practitioners, providing a consistent benchmark to ensure safe, person-centred care.
Diabetes care is constantly evolving, with new technologies, treatments, and models of care, alongside changing needs in priority areas such as First Nations health, aged care, and disability support.
Feedback from educators and health professionals has highlighted opportunities to make the Framework even more relevant and effective.
This project will update the framework to reflect the latest advances in care and workforce priorities.
By involving experts and stakeholders through a structured review process, the updated framework will strengthen the workforce’s ability to respond to the needs of people living with diabetes with knowledge, skill and empathy.
The ultimate goal is to ensure that every person receives care that is safe, supportive, and responsive to their individual needs, improving both outcomes and the overall experience of living with diabetes.
Honouring Tracy Aylen’s legacy
Announced in September, the research grants were made possible through a generous $20,000 bequest from Ms Aylen to foster emerging research and capacity building across the diabetes education profession.
Ms Aylen was a passionate and dedicated CDE who made a lasting impact on the diabetes education profession.
She served as ADEA President for two terms and contributed to the organisation as Board Chair and Branch Representative, shaping national diabetes policy and championing clinical leadership.
She was also a Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor at Bolton Clarke, one of Australia’s largest independent living providers, where she led the development of residential and home-based diabetes services and education.
In 2021, she was awarded Honorary Life Membership by ADEA in recognition of her longstanding service, leadership and exceptional contribution to diabetes care and education.
Ms Aylen passed away later that year, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy, mentorship and commitment to person-centred care.
Her husband, Denis Jones, reflected on her enduring commitment:
"Tracy had a lifelong commitment to diabetes education and to improving how people in the community live with and manage diabetes.
"Her experiences with Bolton Clarke, the Royal District Nursing Service and BlueCare in community and aged care settings strengthened her work supporting people living with diabetes.
"She would have been deeply proud to see these grants awarded to Dr Cowan and Dr Murfet.
"Congratulations to both recipients on their outstanding work and commitment."
Mr Jones said both grants continued her legacy by advancing diabetes education, workforce capability and community care.
About the recipients
Dr Stephanie Cowan is an early career researcher and Accredited Practising Dietitian whose work focuses on improving lifestyle behaviours in women at high risk of chronic disease, particularly for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Her research targets high-risk female populations, including those with PCOS and during menopause, aiming to combat misinformation, enhance health professional education, and co-design practical digital tools for lifestyle management in women’s health.
Dr Cowan completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) and a PhD at Monash University in 2022, where she investigated anti-inflammatory diets to improve cardiometabolic outcomes in post-menopausal women.
She is currently a Research Fellow at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI) and a practising clinical dietitian specialising in women’s health.
She is passionate about translating research into accessible, evidence-based tools that support health professionals and empower women to make informed lifestyle and health decisions.
Dr Giuliana Murfet, an Australian College of Nursing Bullwinkel Scholar, is a practising Nurse Practitioner, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Tasmania, and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney.
Her research focuses on co-designing and evaluating rural and regional models of diabetes care, including diabetes in pregnancy, paediatric diabetes, obesity management, digital inpatient care, and workforce capability for future diabetes needs.
She is a site lead for a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)–funded project focused on improving health literacy.
Further, she has led studies evaluating the contribution of Nurse Practitioners to chronic conditions management and developed a national capability framework to guide diabetes education and workforce growth.
A Fellow and Honorary Life Member of ADEA, past President, and CDE since 1993, she currently chairs the Medical, Educational and Scientific Advisory Council and co-chairs the Health Professional Advisory Council for Diabetes Australia.
Dr Murfet also serves on the Living Evidence for Diabetes Steering Committee and is leading an international consortium to strengthen rural diabetes research collaborations.
