Celebrating impact in the diabetes community

The event held at Melbourne Town Hall was attended by Members of Parliament, volunteers and community leaders, health professionals, researchers, and valued partners.

Diabetes Victoria CEO Glen Noonan acknowledged the lived experience guests in the room.

“You are the heart of this community. It is our immense privilege to work with you and for you, to create a future where all people affected by diabetes can live their best lives.”

Expanding on the annual Outstanding Contribution and Outstanding Contribution – Lived Experience Awards, the Impact Awards introduced three new honours: the Peer Support Award, the Diabetes Camps Victoria Award, and the Prevention Leader Award.

Outstanding Contribution Award

The Outstanding Contribution Award recognises a leader whose influence has spanned policy, clinical practice, research, and education, creating a legacy for patients and health professionals. This year, we honoured Associate Professor Ralph Audehm. 

A general practitioner with over 30 years’ experience, Ralph has had a significant, positive, and enduring influence on the health and wellbeing of Victorians. 

Under his leadership as Head of Programs at Diabetes Victoria in 2007, our state became the first jurisdiction in the world to implement a type 2 diabetes prevention program, the Life! program.

Ralph was a founding member of the Primary Care Diabetes Society of Australia (PCDSA), and he continues to be a director, supporting primary health care professionals to deliver high-quality, effective care.

Outstanding Contribution – Lived Experience Award

The Outstanding Contribution – Lived Experience Award honours a person living with diabetes who has made an extraordinary, lasting contribution to support others in the community. It celebrates the power of lived experience to drive innovation and change.

David Burren received the award, recognising his leadership in diabetes technology and advocacy – his work has helped hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

With his background in engineering and computer science he became instrumental in the early development of DIY closed-loop insulin delivery systems, helping to pioneer technology that has since become life-changing for so many.

David is also a tireless advocate, he started the popular blog Bionic Wookie to explain complex diabetes technology in simple terms, and he coordinates several large online peer-support groups.

Peer Support Award

The inaugural Peer Support Award honoured Teresa Pitt, the founder and long-term convenor of the Melbourne Type 1 Group. She has been the face of a vital social support environment for almost two decades.

Teresa was diagnosed fifty years ago, on Christmas Day, 1974. Seventeen years ago, after living with type 1 for over 30 years and having met only two other adults with type 1, Teresa founded the Melbourne Type 1 Group.

It was the first peer support group for adults with type 1 in the metropolitan area, and its ongoing success is a credit to Teresa’s dedication. The group's beloved format is a purely social gathering, meeting regularly for lunch, without any formal agenda.

Diabetes Camps Victoria Award

The first Diabetes Camps Victoria Award recognised Zac Sanders for his decade of volunteer service to the program. While juggling his career as a nurse, Zac manages to volunteer at several camps every year and he consistently brings energy, fun and warmth.

Zac has attended an astounding 27 camps, making him one of our longest standing volunteers. He is committed to making the camp experience a positive and memorable one for every camper.

He is a go-to for information, offers a warm welcome to new volunteers and health professionals, and the camp community truly wouldn’t be the same without him.

Prevention Leader Award

The Prevention Leader Award celebrated Nicole French, who has shown exceptional leadership in type 2 diabetes prevention. She combines innovative clinical practice with advocacy and education to influence policy change.

Nicole is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and one of our longest-running Life! program providers. She has personally supported more than 1,000 Victorians to reduce their diabetes risk by building healthier habits.

Nicole’s inclusive advocacy and proven outcomes position her as a standout prevention leader in Victoria. She is inspiring an entire generation of allied health professionals to follow her lead.