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Updated in October 2021: Sadly, 2021’s Honorary Life Member Tracy Aylen passed away in October 2021. Tracy was a much loved and respected member of the ADEA community, colleague and friend. She was a dedicated CDE who worked as a Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor for many years. She had a significant role in developing policies and procedures for residential and home-based care services, including specialist diabetes services and education for Bolton Clarke, one of Australia’s largest providers of independent living services.
She was ADEA President for two terms, board chair, and branch representative. In these roles, she made a considerable contribution to the development of national diabetes policies.
Upon receiving the ADEA Honorary Life Membership Award in August 2021, she said: ‘It’s just such an honour to be nominated by people within the ADEA, supported by the board, to receive life membership. It is an honour because the people that have received life memberships previously I see as being huge leaders in our profession. I receive this nomination with much pride and humility.’
Tracy was a friend and mentor to many of our members and will be dearly missed in our community.
At the Australasian Diabetes Congress 2018, Credentialled Diabetes Educator Jayne Lehmann received the ADEA Honorary Lifetime Membership award. ADEA has a chat with her on her exceptional contribution to diabetes care, education and disability.
L-R: Jayne Lehman, ADEA Honorary Life Membership; Brett Fenton, ADEA President
Jayne: On the day I was speechless which is very unusual! The award means the world to me, especially as I am self-employed and work mostly on my own. I’ve gained a sense of validation for my work and leadership, especially my involvement in the ADEA and disability care. Such a career honour is rare and together with the flood of congratulatory messages I’ve received – it has been very heartwarming.
Jayne: I worked on the diabetes ward (6B) at Flinders Medical Centre in 1985, after finishing my Graduate Nurse year. I found I enjoyed working with people with diabetes and wanted to work as a specialist nurse as the autonomy and breadth of the specialty in diabetes was very appealing. I relieved the diabetes educator for her holidays and then in 1986 I was appointed to the newly created position of Clinical Nurse in the Diabetes Education Unit.
Jayne: I have three daughters and Sarah, our middle daughter, has Dravet Syndrome (causes unstable epilepsy, crouched gait, severe intellectual disability, communication disorder and behaviour challenges.) Sarah is now 24 years old and lives in 24hr supported accommodation; her life and our contact with the ‘disability world’ has taught me a lot and made me see the world differently. I was angry that people with an intellectual disability were not able to access the same quality care others take for granted. Sarah inspired me to combine 24 years of disability experience gained from caring for her needs with 32 years of diabetes care and education expertise to improve diabetes health care and education of people with an intellectual disability. It has been exciting to see barriers to quality healthcare being broken down for people with an intellectual disability to access the care others take for granted. Sarah’s life has been a great teacher and inspiration in my practice of truly person centred care.
Jayne: Wow … that’s a hard one. The costumes at the annual conference dinner?! The thousands of people who have allowed me to be a part of their unique diabetes journey.
Jayne: Greet people with the expectation you will work beside them as they care for their diabetes; listen to what they say so they feel they are heard; support and motivate them to act on their plan of care; be there when life has got too hard and managing their diabetes is not their highest priority; let them tell you how they want to use the knowledge and skills you share with them; support and empower in order to set them up for success in managing what is often a very frustrating and challenging condition.
ADEA: Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Jayne.
Updated in October 2021: Sadly, 2021’s Honorary Life Member Tracy Aylen passed away in October 2021. Tracy was a much loved and respected member of the ADEA community, colleague and friend. She was a dedicated CDE who worked as a Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor for many years. She had a significant role in developing policies and procedures for residential and home-based care services, including specialist diabetes services and education for Bolton Clarke, one of Australia’s largest providers of independent living services.
She was ADEA President for two terms, board chair, and branch representative. In these roles, she made a considerable contribution to the development of national diabetes policies.
Upon receiving the ADEA Honorary Life Membership Award in August 2021, she said: ‘It’s just such an honour to be nominated by people within the ADEA, supported by the board, to receive life membership. It is an honour because the people that have received life memberships previously I see as being huge leaders in our profession. I receive this nomination with much pride and humility.’
Tracy was a friend and mentor to many of our members and will be dearly missed in our community.
At the Australasian Diabetes Congress 2018, Credentialled Diabetes Educator Jayne Lehmann received the ADEA Honorary Lifetime Membership award. ADEA has a chat with her on her exceptional contribution to diabetes care, education and disability.
L-R: Jayne Lehman, ADEA Honorary Life Membership; Brett Fenton, ADEA President
Jayne: On the day I was speechless which is very unusual! The award means the world to me, especially as I am self-employed and work mostly on my own. I’ve gained a sense of validation for my work and leadership, especially my involvement in the ADEA and disability care. Such a career honour is rare and together with the flood of congratulatory messages I’ve received – it has been very heartwarming.
Jayne: I worked on the diabetes ward (6B) at Flinders Medical Centre in 1985, after finishing my Graduate Nurse year. I found I enjoyed working with people with diabetes and wanted to work as a specialist nurse as the autonomy and breadth of the specialty in diabetes was very appealing. I relieved the diabetes educator for her holidays and then in 1986 I was appointed to the newly created position of Clinical Nurse in the Diabetes Education Unit.
Jayne: I have three daughters and Sarah, our middle daughter, has Dravet Syndrome (causes unstable epilepsy, crouched gait, severe intellectual disability, communication disorder and behaviour challenges.) Sarah is now 24 years old and lives in 24hr supported accommodation; her life and our contact with the ‘disability world’ has taught me a lot and made me see the world differently. I was angry that people with an intellectual disability were not able to access the same quality care others take for granted. Sarah inspired me to combine 24 years of disability experience gained from caring for her needs with 32 years of diabetes care and education expertise to improve diabetes health care and education of people with an intellectual disability. It has been exciting to see barriers to quality healthcare being broken down for people with an intellectual disability to access the care others take for granted. Sarah’s life has been a great teacher and inspiration in my practice of truly person centred care.
Jayne: Wow … that’s a hard one. The costumes at the annual conference dinner?! The thousands of people who have allowed me to be a part of their unique diabetes journey.
Jayne: Greet people with the expectation you will work beside them as they care for their diabetes; listen to what they say so they feel they are heard; support and motivate them to act on their plan of care; be there when life has got too hard and managing their diabetes is not their highest priority; let them tell you how they want to use the knowledge and skills you share with them; support and empower in order to set them up for success in managing what is often a very frustrating and challenging condition.
ADEA: Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Jayne.
