JDRF congratulates three of our supporters, who have been named in the ADEA (Australia Diabetes Educators Association) 2016 CDE of the Year Award Program. One of these ladies, Kirrily Chambers, is Australia’s first pharmacist to qualify as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE). Kirrily has won the title CDE of the Year in SA.
Having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 10, Kirrily has spent a considerable number of years negotiating the health care system.
“What I found frustrating and a fundamental roadblock in my earlier years was that access to services and education to help with my self-management was not always the easiest,” said Kirrily.
Initially credentialled in January 2009, today, Kirrily is working as a CDE in a community NDSS pharmacy and constantly approached by people with diabetes with questions about diabetes, diabetes care, medications and self-management.
“For me, becoming a CDE seemed like an obvious choice so that I can provide people with diabetes with more access to education and work with them to improve self-management and further continuity of care.”
Nominated by a person with diabetes for this award, Kirrily has helped many more to feel more confident in managing their condition.
“And there are always challenges”, said Kirrily. “People with diabetes are at high risk of developing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and distress.”
Kirrily is passionate about taking care of mental health issues for people with diabetes, sometimes brought about by stereotypical language used in diabetes.
“This is the one thing I wish I could change.”
Kirrily promotes the Diabetes Australia position statement about a new language for diabetes every chance she gets.
One of the judges, Dr Lance Emerson, CEO of the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), said that the PSA were thrilled that a pharmacist has won the Credentialled Diabetes Educator of the Year award in South Australia.
“We congratulate Kirrily on her achievements. She is a pioneer in this area, being the first ever pharmacist qualified as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator”.
“I encourage more pharmacists to became Credentialled Diabetes Educators, as it opens up enhanced opportunities to deliver evidence based diabetes care to patients in a range of settings,” said Dr Emerson.
Kirrily is a strong supporter of JDRF, Type 1 Voice and an important member of the ADEA Educational Reference Group.
Thanks to ADEA for allowing us to republish this article. JDRF also congratulates JDRF supporters, Kate Mundy, CDE of the Year in Queensland, and Ann Morris, CDE of the Year in Victoria, on their accolades. See the full list of winners on the ADEA website.