Media Releases - 12 July 2020

2020 Gwen Scott Grant Program recipients announced

Diabetes Victoria invests in ongoing learning for diabetes health professionals Diabetes Victoria is pleased to announce, during National Diabetes Week 2020, the recipients of funding support under the 2020 Gwen Scott Grant Program. Health professional members of Diabetes Victoria were encouraged to apply for these grants and, this year, Diabetes Victoria has awarded almost $10,000 to support training and professional development in diabetes.

“We have awarded the 2020 Gwen Scott Grants to seven worthy recipients, who intend to use their grants in a myriad of ways – such as completing a Diploma of Counselling, or attending virtual diabetes conferences or workshops during these unprecedented times,” says Diabetes Victoria CEO: Craig Bennett.

Diabetes Victoria established the Gwen Scott Grant Program in 2006, as part of a commitment to health professionals who support those affected by, or at risk of, diabetes. “More than 346,000 Victorians are known to be living with diabetes and there is an increasing need to provide health professionals with opportunities to expand their knowledge and understanding of diabetes, including up-to-date management options and general health promotion strategies,” Mr Bennett adds. “Diabetes increases a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision and loss of a limb; so, the more we can encourage health professionals to further their learning in the field of diabetes, the better for all Victorians.”

“Diabetes is a complex and serious condition to manage. As information about diabetes changes quickly due to research findings and advances in technology, continuous learning is essential.

Health professionals need to update their knowledge and reflect on their practice in order to constantly improve the education and care they provide. This is why Diabetes Victoria supports its health professional members through the Gwen Scott Grant Program,” Mr Bennett concludes.

Gwen Scott was Australia’s first nurse employed as a specialist in diabetes education and the first employee of the Diabetic Association of Victoria, which is Diabetes Victoria today. Ms Scott was influential in establishing the role of diabetes educators, both in Victoria and nationally.

This year, Diabetes Victoria offered up to $35,000 for Gwen Scott grants but, due to COVID-19, related uncertainty, changing events and travel restrictions in 2020, application numbers and grant amounts were lower than normal. Unallocated monies from this year’s program will be rolled over to the 2021 program.2020 Gwen

Scott Grant Program recipients:

Fran Brown – To attend the 14th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes – ATTD 2021 (Paris, France)
Elizabeth Dlugosz – Diploma of Counselling at Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors – Melbourne
Gihan Girgis – To attend the Australasian Diabetes Congress 2020 (Virtually in November 2020)
Rebecca Humphreys – To attend the Australasian Diabetes Congress 2020 (Virtually in November 2020)
Georgia Lynch – To attend the Diabetes Essentials, online CPD Course (1 July – 31 August 2020)
Rachel Romana – To undertake the What's new in Diabetes (Online Course) at the University of Melbourne
Janet Yong – To undertake professional development at the Dietitians Australia Centre for
Learning: Type 1 Diabetes Management for Dietitians