Plans to deliver dedicated diabetes services

A LOCAL diabetes educator is looking to bolster type 1 diabetes support for the region.

Earlier this year, Rebecca Ritchie launched her own specialised diabetes consultation service in Bendigo, as part of the Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre.

The first clinician to be established with the organisation outside its home state of Western Australia, Ms Ritchie said she hopes the partnership will further diabetes services for people in Bendigo and surrounds.

“There’s huge gaps and not really a community here for people [who are diagnosed],” she said.

“The wait in the public system for anyone to get support is ridiculously long for a short period of time and it’s not specialised enough for people to live their best lives.”

Ms Ritchie was herself diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was two years old, and has been an educator on the condition for nearly a decade after receiving her credentials at Hawthorn’s Mayfield Education.

After years of working in the public sector, she reached out to Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre CEO Benjamin Jardine mid-last year and offered to help expand the organisation’s impact into the region.

Mr Jardine said he is excited for the organisation to grow into regional Victoria.

“Reaching out to Bendigo means hundreds more families living with this condition can get the support they need and meet others living and thriving with type 1,” he said.

“Having Bec there locally means there’s a face, name and person that people can connect with. We’ll provide direct local services through her while connecting people to an online group of more than 3000 people impacted with type 1 diabetes.”

Ms Ritchie’s local services were officially launched in January and are currently available via telehealth consultation.

She said a key goal is to empower those living with diabetes in the community.

“I want to build a supportive relationship for my clients but also a community for them so they know they’re not alone,” she said.

“I want to educate them to be able to self-manage their diabetes so they’re not heavily reliant on the public healthcare system and can take control back of their lives.

“A lot of people in the country’s east don’t know the incredible service that is the Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre so I’m looking to get the word out further.”

Ms Ritchie is planning to host a community event with the centre to introduce their services to the region, which is expected to take place later this year.

She said she is excited to expand her services with a physical space once more clients sign up.

“The Family Centre is excited once we determine what the market is in Bendigo, they’ll get me a room to consult out of,” she said.

“Eventually, we’d love to set up a centre like what they’ve got in WA which has a kitchen where they run cooking classes for kids with type 1 diabetes, an outdoor play space, [and] lecture facilities.

“That’s the long-term goal.”