Strengthening diabetes care through connection and collaboration

Strengthening diabetes care through connection and collaboration

Supporting people living with type 2 diabetes takes more than clinical expertise – it takes strong partnerships, shared learning and a connected health workforce.

Back in June, our Chronic Disease team joined health professionals from across Western NSW for a series of diabetes education and networking events designed to strengthen care for people living with type 2 diabetes. The events brought together diabetes educators, GPs, specialists and other clinicians to share knowledge, build professional connections and explore the latest developments in diabetes and metabolic health.

A highlight was the Diabetes Education Masterclass, featuring keynote speaker Professor Ted Wu from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and a presentation from fellow Royal Prince Alfred Hospital endocrinologist Professor Jencia Wong. The sessions explored emerging evidence and best-practice approaches in diabetes care, helping clinicians stay informed and continue delivering high-quality, person-centred support.

For Alison Amor, Portfolio Manager – Chronic Disease Services, the value of the event was in both the learning opportunities and the chance to strengthen connections across the healthcare sector.

“There were such valuable insights shared and robust discussions throughout the Diabetes Education Masterclass. It was great to collaborate with the Care Partnership – Diabetes team, local GPs, diabetes educators and health professionals working across our region. Events like this strengthen workforce capability and help ensure we’re continuing to provide the best possible support for people living with type 2 diabetes.”

The event was also an opportunity for Marathon Health clinicians to share their own expertise. Alison Amor and Amanda Taylor, Clinical Lead Chronic Disease Services joined GP Dr Alex Hoyle and Endocrinologist Dr Manik Mayadunne as panel members for a live type 2 Diabetes ECHO session, discussing real-world approaches to diabetes management and encouraging participants to share their experiences and challenges.

The session highlighted the value of collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing, providing clinicians with a forum to exchange ideas, explore practical solutions and learn from colleagues working across different areas of diabetes care.

For Jaclyn Harvey, Senior Dietitian and Credentialled Diabetes Educator at Marathon Health, the opportunity to connect with peers was a standout.

“Saturday’s Masterclass was fantastic – connecting with other clinicians who ‘get it’ when it comes to supporting people with diabetes made it even more meaningful. It was a great day of learning, sharing and staying inspired to be the best Diabetes Educator I can be!”

The connections began even before the Masterclass, with a Diabetes Educator networking evening bringing clinicians together from across the Western NSW PHN region. The event strengthened professional relationships, created opportunities for ongoing peer support and reinforced the importance of staying connected in a rapidly evolving field.

“Connecting with Diabetes Educators from across our region helped strengthen support networks and build workforce capacity. As metabolic health continues to evolve, these opportunities to share knowledge, learn from one another and stay connected are essential to delivering person-centred, evidence-based care.” Amanda Taylor, Clinical Lead Chronic Disease Services.

“I would just like to express my gratitude for being given the opportunity to attend this terrific diabetes masterclass. To come together with colleagues, rekindle old acquaintances and meet new people all with a passion for diabetes in our local environment is very special. We were also provided with some very informative presentations from leaders in the field. A wonderful day well worth making the effort”. Alison Logan, Credentialled Diabetes Educator.

Through involvement in initiatives like these, Marathon Health is helping strengthen diabetes care across regional NSW – supporting clinicians to learn from one another, stay connected to emerging evidence and continue delivering high-quality, person-centred care closer to home.

A big thank you to the Western NSW PHN, Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC), the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Rural Doctors Network through the Care Partnership Diabetes program, and Diabetes Australia for supporting such a great day of learning and collaboration