Already a member? Click here to login.
Already a member? Click here to login.
We congratulate all of the State and Territory CDEs of Year for 2020!
The Award program profiles and acknowledges leading CDEs and their extraordinary contributions in the community of people with diabetes and diabetes education.
It is a chance for us to honour and celebrate the difference CDEs make in people’s lives each day.
Nominees are selected based on:
The award evolved from the Jan Baldwin award. Ms Baldwin was an innovative and dedicated diabetes educator who strongly influenced the practice of diabetes education in Australia until her passing in 1999.
The national winner will be announced at our World Diabetes Day celebration, online, Sat 14 November 1 – 2pm (AEST).
From Award Sponsor, Eli Lilly
The CDE of the Year award program is run by ADEA and financially supported by Eli Lilly since 2014. Their generous support means each State winner receives a $1,000 scholarship, and the National winner a $5,000 scholarship.
‘Lilly and ADEA share a common purpose to help make life better for people living with Diabetes.
‘This is why we have partnered on the prestigious CDE of the Year Award since 2014. Our heartfelt congratulations goes to all the Finalists.
‘Their contribution to the community of people with diabetes is extraordinary and shows what is possible to achieve when passion is combined with genuine care. Their work is an inspiration to all of us.’
Andrew J. Lechleiter, Chief Marketing Officer at Lilly Australia.
Kirstin Turner (ACT)
Kirstin Turner: ACT CDE of the Year
Kirstin Turner is an Accredited Pharmacist and Credentialled Diabetes Educator working in both private and GP practices.
Kirstin has experience working with patients of all types of diabetes diagnoses, specialising in medication optimisation for elderly patients experiencing diabetes related complications.
Kirstin’s warm, nurturing and caring personality has allowed her to relate to her patients and appreciate that diabetes impacts every aspect of life, by identifying specific barriers and by setting realistic and maintainable goals.
Kirstin is driven to ensure a better quality of life for her patients and is uniquely skilled to help patients by not just offering education, but also offering specialised, personalised, and comprehensive medication management given any co-morbid conditions.
Michelle Kriss (N.S.W)
Michelle Kriss: New South Wales CDE of the Year
Michelle has been working as a diabetes educator for more than 20 years and enjoys the complexities of the patients she sees.
She is an energetic team member of the Greater Newcastle Sector-Diabetes Service where she actively strives to provide expert care to all patients with diabetes and ensures their individual needs are met.
Michelle really loves her work and the professional relationships she has developed with her many patients over the years.
When Michelle isn’t at work she enjoys performing in musical theatre and getting on the water on her stand up paddle board.
Kay Dean (QLD)
Kay Dean: Queensland CDE of the Year
Having practiced in the UK as an emergency nurse I moved to Australia in 2010 with a young family.
I initially moved into primary care with a motivated GP who had an interest in diabetes management and encouraged me to complete a postgraduate certificate in diabetes management.
This led me to join Ipswich Diabetes Service in 2013 as a trainee diabetes educator where I am now working as an endorsed Nurse Practitioner Nurse Navigator in diabetes.
I am passionate about building strong partnerships between primary care, non- government organisations and hospital services to ensure patients receive timely access to quality diabetes care that meets their individual needs and circumstances.
Shaun Johnson (S.A.)
Shaun Johnson: South Australian CDE of the Year
I have had over 10 year’s experience working in diabetes and critical care, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Having lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 24 years, I feel that my own experiences enable me to be more empathetic and understanding of the day to day struggles that come with managing type 1 diabetes.
My passion enables me to energise and empower clients to achieve their own diabetes self-management goals.
I have a genuine interest in diabetes technology, particularly sensor augmented pump therapy and its advancing automation.
Through my work as a coordinator for paediatric hybrid closed loop technology studies, I have seen how advancing technologies can assist in reducing the burden of diabetes management and have a positive impact on client healthcare outcomes.
Fran Brown (VIC)
Fran Brown: Victorian CDE of the Year
I genuinely love my role as a CDE in private practice. From working with children at diabetes camps, running a local special interest group over the past 13 years to introducing older adults to advanced technologies in diabetes management, the job never gets boring!
My passion is instilling in people with diabetes that their health is worth the investment, and that with knowledge and the right team around them, they can live a fulfilled life. I call it ‘health superannuation’. I often reflect on my Dad, who died during my early nursing years at age 68 from diabetes complications. He is in my thoughts as I help people to help themselves as their life is so valued by those around them.
I love all things technology and thrive on helping people of all ages to use it successfully to improve their health and quality of life, and to reduce burden.
Both my home family and my work family are my strength and have supported me over the past 25 years to be successful, and to provide care for my patients at any time of the day or night!
After a long day at work, and in my ‘spare’ time, I love a walk with my husband Paul and our dog Maggie, I love a chat with my 2 adult children Tom and Emma, and huge extended family and love the odd red wine. I recently hung up my surf lifesaving cap after many years as a volunteer and look forward to more camping weekends.
Teresa di Franco (W.A.)
Teresa di Franco: West Australian CDE of the Year
Since registering as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator I have been involved in establishing and practising in a multidisciplinary community allied health service at Perth Diabetes Care and am part of a multidisciplinary aboriginal podiatry and diabetes service, Moorditj Djena.
I have been passionate about providing input into the direction of diabetes education in the future to ensure it is accessible, affordable and of a high standard for all people living with diabetes by taking roles on the ADEA Clinical committee, WA Health Network Endocrine Executive advisory group and the Curtin University Diabetes Education Course review advisory committee.
I believe in making living with diabetes as less stressful as possible and providing people with the most up to date technology. Having seen family members live with various forms of diabetes and some eventually succumbing to the complications of diabetes, this inspired me to venture down the diabetes educator pathway.
I was lucky to be part of establishing Perth Diabetes Care together with my husband, who is also a CDE, and our amazing team to provide a full support team for people living with diabetes in the primary care setting. The support I provide as a CDE is strengthened by our team approach to care.
During my time with Moorditj Djena I have been able to work with a team of Aboriginal Health professionals, Podiatrists and Dietitians to provide diabetes education to clients in a community-based clinic.
CDEs have the ability to impact the lives of those living with all types of diabetes and as part of two amazing teams I am able to meet so many wonderful people and support them on their journey with diabetes.
A message from our CEO Susan Davidson
I would like to congratulate all the Finalists, who epitomise the diversity of incredible work our Members do each day in their communities.
All CDEs are leaders in diabetes education, and this award recognises the Finalists’ leadership and inspiration for others, as well as excellence.
This year has seen all CDEs working with new challenges related to COVID-19, to continue to serve people living with diabetes.
We had many inspiring nominees from across our regions and it has been a wonderful chance for us to honour and celebrate the difference CDEs make in people’s lives each day.
We are very grateful for the support of Eli Lilly, making this award possible since 2014.
I hope many of our Members and members of the Diabetes community can join us on World Diabetes Day, Saturday the 14th as we announce the National winner of the Jan Baldwin CDE of the Year Award.
We congratulate all of the State and Territory CDEs of Year for 2020!
The Award program profiles and acknowledges leading CDEs and their extraordinary contributions in the community of people with diabetes and diabetes education.
It is a chance for us to honour and celebrate the difference CDEs make in people’s lives each day.
Nominees are selected based on:
The award evolved from the Jan Baldwin award. Ms Baldwin was an innovative and dedicated diabetes educator who strongly influenced the practice of diabetes education in Australia until her passing in 1999.
The national winner will be announced at our World Diabetes Day celebration, online, Sat 14 November 1 – 2pm (AEST).
From Award Sponsor, Eli Lilly
The CDE of the Year award program is run by ADEA and financially supported by Eli Lilly since 2014. Their generous support means each State winner receives a $1,000 scholarship, and the National winner a $5,000 scholarship.
‘Lilly and ADEA share a common purpose to help make life better for people living with Diabetes.
‘This is why we have partnered on the prestigious CDE of the Year Award since 2014. Our heartfelt congratulations goes to all the Finalists.
‘Their contribution to the community of people with diabetes is extraordinary and shows what is possible to achieve when passion is combined with genuine care. Their work is an inspiration to all of us.’
Andrew J. Lechleiter, Chief Marketing Officer at Lilly Australia.
Kirstin Turner (ACT)
Kirstin Turner: ACT CDE of the Year
Kirstin Turner is an Accredited Pharmacist and Credentialled Diabetes Educator working in both private and GP practices.
Kirstin has experience working with patients of all types of diabetes diagnoses, specialising in medication optimisation for elderly patients experiencing diabetes related complications.
Kirstin’s warm, nurturing and caring personality has allowed her to relate to her patients and appreciate that diabetes impacts every aspect of life, by identifying specific barriers and by setting realistic and maintainable goals.
Kirstin is driven to ensure a better quality of life for her patients and is uniquely skilled to help patients by not just offering education, but also offering specialised, personalised, and comprehensive medication management given any co-morbid conditions.
Michelle Kriss (N.S.W)
Michelle Kriss: New South Wales CDE of the Year
Michelle has been working as a diabetes educator for more than 20 years and enjoys the complexities of the patients she sees.
She is an energetic team member of the Greater Newcastle Sector-Diabetes Service where she actively strives to provide expert care to all patients with diabetes and ensures their individual needs are met.
Michelle really loves her work and the professional relationships she has developed with her many patients over the years.
When Michelle isn’t at work she enjoys performing in musical theatre and getting on the water on her stand up paddle board.
Kay Dean (QLD)
Kay Dean: Queensland CDE of the Year
Having practiced in the UK as an emergency nurse I moved to Australia in 2010 with a young family.
I initially moved into primary care with a motivated GP who had an interest in diabetes management and encouraged me to complete a postgraduate certificate in diabetes management.
This led me to join Ipswich Diabetes Service in 2013 as a trainee diabetes educator where I am now working as an endorsed Nurse Practitioner Nurse Navigator in diabetes.
I am passionate about building strong partnerships between primary care, non- government organisations and hospital services to ensure patients receive timely access to quality diabetes care that meets their individual needs and circumstances.
Shaun Johnson (S.A.)
Shaun Johnson: South Australian CDE of the Year
I have had over 10 year’s experience working in diabetes and critical care, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Having lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 24 years, I feel that my own experiences enable me to be more empathetic and understanding of the day to day struggles that come with managing type 1 diabetes.
My passion enables me to energise and empower clients to achieve their own diabetes self-management goals.
I have a genuine interest in diabetes technology, particularly sensor augmented pump therapy and its advancing automation.
Through my work as a coordinator for paediatric hybrid closed loop technology studies, I have seen how advancing technologies can assist in reducing the burden of diabetes management and have a positive impact on client healthcare outcomes.
Fran Brown (VIC)
Fran Brown: Victorian CDE of the Year
I genuinely love my role as a CDE in private practice. From working with children at diabetes camps, running a local special interest group over the past 13 years to introducing older adults to advanced technologies in diabetes management, the job never gets boring!
My passion is instilling in people with diabetes that their health is worth the investment, and that with knowledge and the right team around them, they can live a fulfilled life. I call it ‘health superannuation’. I often reflect on my Dad, who died during my early nursing years at age 68 from diabetes complications. He is in my thoughts as I help people to help themselves as their life is so valued by those around them.
I love all things technology and thrive on helping people of all ages to use it successfully to improve their health and quality of life, and to reduce burden.
Both my home family and my work family are my strength and have supported me over the past 25 years to be successful, and to provide care for my patients at any time of the day or night!
After a long day at work, and in my ‘spare’ time, I love a walk with my husband Paul and our dog Maggie, I love a chat with my 2 adult children Tom and Emma, and huge extended family and love the odd red wine. I recently hung up my surf lifesaving cap after many years as a volunteer and look forward to more camping weekends.
Teresa di Franco (W.A.)
Teresa di Franco: West Australian CDE of the Year
Since registering as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator I have been involved in establishing and practising in a multidisciplinary community allied health service at Perth Diabetes Care and am part of a multidisciplinary aboriginal podiatry and diabetes service, Moorditj Djena.
I have been passionate about providing input into the direction of diabetes education in the future to ensure it is accessible, affordable and of a high standard for all people living with diabetes by taking roles on the ADEA Clinical committee, WA Health Network Endocrine Executive advisory group and the Curtin University Diabetes Education Course review advisory committee.
I believe in making living with diabetes as less stressful as possible and providing people with the most up to date technology. Having seen family members live with various forms of diabetes and some eventually succumbing to the complications of diabetes, this inspired me to venture down the diabetes educator pathway.
I was lucky to be part of establishing Perth Diabetes Care together with my husband, who is also a CDE, and our amazing team to provide a full support team for people living with diabetes in the primary care setting. The support I provide as a CDE is strengthened by our team approach to care.
During my time with Moorditj Djena I have been able to work with a team of Aboriginal Health professionals, Podiatrists and Dietitians to provide diabetes education to clients in a community-based clinic.
CDEs have the ability to impact the lives of those living with all types of diabetes and as part of two amazing teams I am able to meet so many wonderful people and support them on their journey with diabetes.
A message from our CEO Susan Davidson
I would like to congratulate all the Finalists, who epitomise the diversity of incredible work our Members do each day in their communities.
All CDEs are leaders in diabetes education, and this award recognises the Finalists’ leadership and inspiration for others, as well as excellence.
This year has seen all CDEs working with new challenges related to COVID-19, to continue to serve people living with diabetes.
We had many inspiring nominees from across our regions and it has been a wonderful chance for us to honour and celebrate the difference CDEs make in people’s lives each day.
We are very grateful for the support of Eli Lilly, making this award possible since 2014.
I hope many of our Members and members of the Diabetes community can join us on World Diabetes Day, Saturday the 14th as we announce the National winner of the Jan Baldwin CDE of the Year Award.
