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We'd like to welcome our new Steering Committee Members Dr Pam Chen and James Gerrard to the DFA team! We're looking forward to the valuable input and diverse expertise they both bring to help DFA achieve its current objectives and help define our future goals and projects. Welcome Pam and James!
We'd also like to thank those who applied for the advertised position. We received a record number of applications and the calibre, diversity and experience across the applications were of an extremely high standard. Which again, highlights just how are Australian DFD clinicians are leading the charge.
DFA MINI SYMPOSIUM
Sunday 3:00pm - 5:00pm - Novotel
DFA is hosting a special pre-conference mini symposium where we’re inviting multi-disciplinary health professionals, researchers and organisations to discuss:
- Where national DFD research is at currently
- Lessons and learnings from our international experts on collaborative research programs
- What’s needed next and how to get involved
In this interactive session, we want to hear from you. As we work towards bringing the DFD community together to conduct research that makes a real difference and supports new innovations in clinical care delivery.
REGISTRATIONS ARE LIMITED AND WILL OPEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER FOR REGISTERED CONFERENCE DELEGATES TO RESERVE A SEAT.
We're excited to release the preliminary conference program that features internationally acclaimed experts and national speakers whose influence is critical to best practice treatment and research in diabetes-related foot health and disease around the globe.
We have 4 thought provoking plenary sessions, 10+ practical workshops, pre-conference events, diverse abstract sessions, poster session, an interactive exhibition and let's not forget about the social side of things. Not only are we going resort style, but the conference space itself will feel like a retreat. With all session rooms an easy stroll away, there will be plenty of time to relax, chat and connect.
In August, we're launching the official conference program. This will include our full line-up of abstract speakers and details for the DFA Poster Session. With the launch of our additional partner workshops, masterclasses and events released closer to the conference, we're ramping up to welcome you all to DFA2023.
Diabetes Feet Australia is proud to announce and open nominations for the first ‘Outstanding achievement in diabetes-related foot health and disease’ award, which will be presented at the upcoming DFA 2023 Conference.
This biennial award recognises an individual:
who has made significant, fundamental contributions to diabetes-related foot health and disease (whether in research, clinical practice, advocacy and/or leadership)
the impact of these contributions to the sector
demonstrated an outstanding contribution to diabetes-related foot health and disease
holds the respect of professional peers in the DFD clinical and/or research community.
Nominations are now open and close on 28th August, with the Award Winner announced and presented with the award on Monday 09th October during the DFA Conference.
DOWNLOAD FLYER: https://www.diabetesfeetaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DFA-2023-Outstanding-Contribution-Award-Flyer.pdf
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM: https://www.diabetesfeetaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DFA23-Outstanding-Award-Form-2407.pdf
We’re back!
And in 2023, we’re going resort style, where you can relax and recharge as we all learn about the latest in global DFD clinical practice and research.
DFA 2023 features a social program delivered in DFA style, an interactive exhibition, leading global DFD experts and most importantly, future-focused content with an emphasis on the practical you use every day. So stay tuned as we prepare for the official conference launch in March when registrations will also open.
So get ready to dust off that ‘ol’ resort wear’ and join us at DFA2023!
Back in 2020, DFA appointed an expert multi-disciplinary guideline working group to develop a best practice plan to adapt suitable international guidelines into the Australian context to become the new Australian DFD guidelines. And in late 2021, we released the new 2021 Australian evidence-based DFD guidelines that now serve as multidisciplinary best practice standards of care for the provision of DFD care within Australia. We're excited to announce that all six guidelines are now also published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. The DFA team would like to take the time to acknowledge again the six guideline working groups (including 31 national experts) for the extraordinary amount of work over the last 18 months, dedication and care that was taken to develop and release new DFD guidelines for the first time in a decade. You can learn more about the working group experts here
To access the JFAR publications - click on the links below!
But wait there's more...
Following on from the release of the 2021 Australian guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease, the Diabetes and Feet companion toolkit has also been released. This toolkit has been designed to help busy multidisciplinary health professionals use guideline recommended diabetes-related foot care at any time and place and with the person with diabetes-related foot ulcer right there in front of them. It also includes 8 user friendly pathways covering all six guidelines. The toolkit and pathways should assist health professionals to decide on the recommended evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, management and follow-up care needed for people living with diabetes-related foot disease and diabetes-related foot ulcers. When more detailed information on a clinical question or a recommendation is required, we suggest you then refer to the full guidelines. This resource was funded by the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), an initiative of the Australian Government and administered by Diabetes Australia, in partnership with Diabetes Feet Australia and the Australian Diabetes Society. You can access the Diabetes and Feet Toolkit here.
DFA has the great pleasure in welcoming Dr Viv Chuter, Dr Emma Hamilton and Ms Hayley Ryan to the DFA Steering Committee. The DFA Steering Committee plays a crucial leadership role in developing the national strategic plan and priorities for DFA, and delivering projects and activities. As you’ll read in the short bio’s below, the team is looking forward to working with Viv, Emma and Hayley as we continue to focus on ending avoidable amputations within a generation. We’d also like to acknowledge all candidates who submitted applications. We received a record number of high caliber applications, which continues to highlight the considerable depth, experience and growth in the Australian DFD community.
Dr Vivienne Chuter is a Professor at Western Sydney University and leads a clinically based research program focusing on prevention and management of diabetes-related foot disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for non-Indigenous Australians. Committed to improving health and well-being for First Nations Australians, Vivienne provides academic leadership and clinical service provision to co-designed, community-led diabetes-related foot complications prevention and management services and research. This includes research relating to development and implementation of culturally safe care provision and strategies to develop cultural capability in new graduate practitioners.
Dr Emma Hamilton is an Endocrinologist at Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals, Clinical Senior Lecturer at UWA and Clinical Lead of the Multidisciplinary Diabetes Foot Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital, an NADC accredited Centre of Excellence High Risk Foot Service. Aligning her research priorities with her clinical work, Emma was awarded a Raine Clinician Research Fellowship to further her research in diabetes-related foot disease, with the aim of improving outcomes for people living with diabetes and foot complications and serves on a number of national diabetes-related foot disease projects and committees.
Ms Hayley Ryan has almost 20 years experience in nursing and has worked in wound care over this time. Hayley has a passion for healing wounds as a Clinical Nurse Consultant across Australia and New Zealand in private practice with her own company WoundRescue. Hayley also lectures at Universities and has been appointed as an adjunct fellow at the University of technology Sydney.
Following on from the release of the 2021 Australian guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease last year, we are excited to release the Diabetes and Feet companion toolkit that has been designed to help busy multidisciplinary health professionals use guideline recommended DFD care at any time and place and with the person with diabetes-related foot ulcer right there in front of them. This resource was funded by the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), an initiative of the Australian Government and administered by Diabetes Australia, in partnership with Diabetes Feet Australia and the Australian Diabetes Society.
The Diabetes and Feet toolkit includes:
• an overview of each guideline from the 2021 Australian guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease
• recommendations for each guideline
• implementation and monitoring considerations
• considerations for the Australian context
• practical pathways for each guideline to help optimise the implementation of the recommendations.
The toolkit and pathways should assist health professionals to decide on the recommended evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, management and follow-up care needed for people living with diabetes-related foot disease and diabetes-related foot ulcers. When more detailed information on a clinical question or a recommendation is required, we suggest you then refer to the full 2021 Australian guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease. You can do this by quickly browsing the contents of each guideline, identifying the question you are most interested in and then read the recommendations made, the reasons why those recommendations were made and considerations on how to implement the recommendation in practice.
Access the Diabetes and Feet toolkit here
Yarning Pty Ltd has been engaged by Diabetes Australia to consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and health workers who provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to gain thoughts, insights, and valuable feedback around the National Diabetes Support Scheme and associated programs for Indigenous Australians who suffer Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. This feedback will be used to inform future polices, and programs. Feedback is being sought from any health professionals whose roles (both directly and indirectly) includes providing support to Indigenous patients with Diabetes, Indigenous people who are living with diabetes, or Indigenous family members who provide care for someone living with diabetes. Feedback is being sought via a number of methods:
Online Workshops
A 2-hour workshop via Microsoft Teams where you can share your thoughts and ideas around support services, educational programs associated with the NDSS.
Workshops have been scheduled for each State and Territory and have been broken into 4 targeted sessions.
- Health Workers from Metropolitan areas
- Health Workers from Regional and Remote areas
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members from Metropolitan areas
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members from Regional and Remote areas,
To register to attend a workshop, or for more information contact: phil@yarning.com.au
Online survey
Two survey’s have been develop, one for health professionals, and one for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Each survey should only take about 10 minutes to complete.
The link for the Health Professionals survey is here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SVZVLML
The link for the Mob Living with Diabetes survey is here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8V72VFW
One on One interview
If you are unable to attend a workshop, but would still like to provide feedback please reach out to phil@yarning.com.au and someone from the yarning team will give you a call at a convenient time to hear your thoughts and feedback about the NDSS
We hope you will take the time to share your experiences to help guide and inform better service provision to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients and communities and share this project with any family, friends, and colleagues whose feedback will be valuable.
Should you have any questions regarding this project please contact Phil Ahmat of the Yarning team via phil@yarning.com.au