As I sit here typing these thoughts, the final touches are being made for our Family Centre Christmas party. At this party, we'll get almost 200 people together, united by membership in the club that no one wants to join.
The fact that we will have an absolute ball and Centre staff will work their butts off to make everyone smile, fills my heart with joy. In some special way, it's like a giant middle finger to this challenging condition. A reminder that we won't let type 1 diabetes hold anyone back. We're in this together and going to have a ball on this crazy ride we call life.
It fills my heart with gratitude to see it all come together. I guess I'm getting sentimental in my old age but I'm so proud of what this community does for each other, and what we continue to achieve. So, in the grand tradition of end-of-year reflection, I wanted to share my thanks with the tribe and celebrate just a few of our achievements over the last 12 months. Please sit down, strap in and prepare yourselves for weepy, sentimental old Benjamin and his tales of the year that was...
Our community fundraising heroes
Every year we are supported by an amazing group of people from the tribe who, off their own bat, decide to fundraise for the Family Centre. Given that we do not receive any government funding for our services, every dollar these amazing people raise makes sure we can continue our mission. That we can ensure no one faces type 1 alone.
This year is no different. I want to thank you not only for keeping the Family Centre running (I do love my job), but for being here for anyone living with type 1. On their worst days, facing the hardest challenges, knowing you have thousands of people behind you is just the right medicine.
This year we saw extraordinary community fundraising, from local bake sales to type 1 awareness days at schools and everything in between. We saw type 1 ultramarathon runner Duncan Read raise $11,148 for our teen camps and JDRF, and the incredible and brave Splash for Ash campaign raised more than $17,000 to support our mentoring programs. We saw the community come together in hundreds of ways, despite incredible cost-of-living pressures, to support those in need.
Know that every dollar raised makes a real difference at the Family Centre. Whether its offering bulk-billed psychology services for our most vulnerable, subsidising our amazing camps or running events of community connection, it cannot happen without you.
If you feel inspired to become a Family Centre Community Fundraiser after reading this (and how could you not), check out our Community Fundraising information and share your fundraising idea with us today – because together #wearetype1 https://www.type1familycentre.org.au/community-fundraising
Accessible mental health support
Speaking of mental health, how could we not celebrate the amazing ability to offer bulk-billed Psychology services to our most vulnerable, and heavily discounted Psychology services across the board? I am so proud of the Family Centre - and our community - for demanding better mental health support and living our values by delivering them right here, right now (it reminds me of the looping community's #wearenotwaiting). And I'm so proud of the legendary Natalia Hazell, our amazing Psychologist, who offers care and compassion to parents, teens and adults living with type 1 - with a smile and grace.
If you ever struggle with mental health and type 1, know that you are not alone. Prioritise self-care and check in with us today: https://www.type1familycentre.org.au/psychology
And we've doubled down this year with the addition of specialist Eating Disorders services for people with type 1 diabetes, thanks to the amazing Beck Newton. Knowing the at-times-challenging relationship between food and insulin for people living with type 1, we're meeting the challenge head-on. No longer will we hear whispers of unhelpful terms like "diabulemia". We'll meet the challenges of type 1, food and body image with care, support and kindness. https://www.type1familycentre.org.au/eating-disorders
Preparing teens for an amazing life with type 1
Being a teenager is tough (I have destroyed most photo evidence of my teenage years!). But it can be especially tough for teenagers living with type 1 diabetes, and their families. In fact, we know that of anyone living with type 1, teenagers are the most likely to find blood glucose management challenging and the burden of type 1 overwhelming.
Not to mention the challenge for parents, who are already often feeling like the enemy, as teenagers seek to create their own identity and become their own adult self. How are we to let our children fly the nest knowing the extra burden type 1 diabetes brings?
Well, this year we started to do something about it. The best thing we could think of: pair teenagers up with amazing young people with type 1 diabetes who have successfully made it through their teenage years into thriving adulthood. No teen wants to hear their advice from crusty adults like me (I have accepted this - grudgingly). They want to hear from people who look like them, who remember what it is like to be a teenager with type 1. Who know what it is like to be the kid pulling out their pump at Maccas.
Above: The amazing type 1 mentors for the T1E Empower program.
Our T1D Empower program is an exciting first step in tackling the challenging teenage transition to adult self-management. Got a teenager and wondering how on earth you'll survive? Register interest with us at T1DEmpower@type1familycentre.org.au
Flying the flag with health care professionals!
Ever smashed your head against a wall after hearing yet another piece of helpful "diabetes" advice? Been referred to an expert in "diabetes" only to find their world is health promotion and non-insulin medications? Been to your GP and wondered if they know the difference between your insulin pump and CGM?
This year, we tackled this challenge with gusto, flying the flag for both a greater understanding of type 1 diabetes and a greater focus on health programs customised to the needs of people living with type 1.
Who would have thought we'd have more than 50 GPs at the Family Centre learning about real-life with type 1 and how they can help? Who ever imagined we'd be invited to the international stage at the Australian Diabetes Congress to talk about the practical use of carbohydrate reduction in T1 management? For years, we the tribe have been working for better understanding from HCPs and we're so proud to be making it happen. Look out for more in 2025!
Talking 'bout real life with type 1
We also joined the podcast bandwagon this year with the launch of Life in Beta. For years, we've witnessed the value of people getting together and talking about type 1 - the catharsis, the healing, and the motivation it can create is immeasurable. And we wanted a way to take those conversations to more people. So we scooped up our resident T1s and put them in front of a microphone. We've now hit an amazing 3,000 downloads of our lived-reality podcast.
Did you know that the Life in Beta podcast audience comes from as far afield as India and that we have regular listeners across Australia, the US, the UK and Canada? If you haven't listened in yet, join Adam, Carly and I as we talk life with type 1 diabetes - unfiltered. (Just remember, what is said on the pod stays on the pod - we're not safe for work over there!).
Check us out: https://www.type1familycentre.org.au/life-in-beta
Here's to 2025
There's so much more we could celebrate but most of all I want to thank every one of you for being a member of our tribe. We may be the club no one wants to join, but we're in this together and we're pretty damn amazing.
Something you think we should be doing in 2025? Tell us! hello@type1familycentre.org.au or 08 9446 6446.
Have a happy, safe holiday season. May your BGLs be stable and all your supplies in date!
Benjamin
"the Dia-boss"
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