About Us
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The Type 1 Diabetes Network is an Australian organisation of people with Type 1 Diabetes, founded in 1997, which provides support, information and a voice for the Type 1 community. The mission of the Type 1 Diabetes Network is to create opportunities for Australians affected by Type 1 Diabetes to share knowledge and experiences in order to attain an optimum quality of life through:
The organisation is run by a dedicated team of volunteers: all people with Type 1 diabetes ourselves.
Our current activities include:
GovernanceMembers of our Management Committee are as follows.
Kate was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes during her first year at school, at the age of five. In 1998, finding the support available for adults with Type 1 Diabetes to be lacking, Kate formed a network of young adults in Melbourne, which has grown into The Type 1 Diabetes Network. Kate has been President since the organisation was incorporated in the year 2000.
Tony believes that he can only improve life for people with T1D by being 'involved' in that change. He has been a moderator of the Reality Check online community since 2007 and has taken on a leadership role in the major upgrade of the Type 1 Diabetes Network's website. He joined the Management Committee in 2009.
The Type 1 Diabetes Network is an incorporated association registered in Victoria, Australia. We are also registered by the Australian Tax Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient on 1 July 2007. Gifts of $2 and over are tax-deductible. Key Governance documents:
President's Annual reports:
AuthorshipThe authors of all information on this website, unless otherwise stated, are not medical professionals but people who live with diabetes themselves and draw on their extensive personal experience, as well as a variety of professional experiences. Where specific medical advice is given, referencing is given wherever possible. The information provided by Reality Check is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her doctors, nurses or other medical professionals. Supporters and FundingThis website is maintained by unpaid volunteers. This site receives no ongoing commercial or external funding, with the exception of occasional advertising which is clearly identiied as such, and is therefore independent. In 2000-01, support was received from Diabetes Australia-Victoria, who paid the web hosting costs and the services of a web designer to help with content publishing. Our resource published in October 2004, A Starter Kit for Adults Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes was developed through a major project funded by the Australian government Department of Health & Ageing. The Starter Kit's online publication on this site was also funded by the federal government through this grant. Since 2006, Abbott Diabetes Care have provided in-kind support by reprinting and distributing the Starter Kit throughout Australia. The Type 1 Diabetes Network has been registered by the Australian Tax Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient since 1 July 2007. Gifts of $2 and over are tax-deductible. Brief History of the Type 1 Diabetes Network
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 19 June 2010 ) |
Kate Gilbert (President, Melbourne) Kate trained in political science and public policy development at the University of Melbourne and in 2010 will complete a Masters in Public Health majoring in Health Program Evaluation. Kate is currently on secondment to the Victorian government’s Department of Health supporting the implementation of new chronic disease programs and partnerships in primary and community health.
Melinda Seed (Treasurer, Sydney) Melinda is a Chartered Accountant with more than ten years experience in the management and governance of not-for-profit organisations. She has a Bachelor of Economics and a Masters of Arts in Communications, with a special interest in online communication. Melinda has been Treasurer of the Type 1 Diabetes Network since 2000 and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 1 year of age.
Colleen Clarke (Secretary, Melbourne) Colleen has a strong background in administration, with experience in the oil industry, financial planning, project management and local government. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 33. Colleen's experience of living with diabetes has included also managing long-term infertility, going through many IVF cycles before falling pregnant naturally at age 40. Colleen has volunteered with Reality Check and the Type 1 Diabetes Network for many years and currently works as the organsiation's administration officer and became Secretary in 2009.
Tony Bernauer (Sydney) Tony works in telecommunications and has an Advanced Diploma in Electronic Engineering and a Certificate IV in Business (Frontline Management). He has played an active role in community organisations for over 30 years, from an early involvement as a commitee member of his local surf lifesaving club through to positions such as Vice President - Education of his Local Toastmasters Club in recent times.
Vashti Biffanti (Canberra) Vashti studied business at the University of Central Queensland majoring in marketing. She has a strong sales and client relationship management background with experience in the financial services sector. She now works in philanthropy as the Executive Office for GreaterGood-The Capital Region Community Foundation. She co-facilitated a support group in Brisbane for pregnant women with Type 1 and gestational diabetes and is now involved in the development of a support network for Type 1s in Canberra. Vashti has represented Type 1 diabetes in the media and spoken at several functions. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1982 at the age of 12, Vashti is keen to raise the profile of Type 1 Diabetes in the general community and tackle the many misconceptions that exist. She joined the Management Committee in 2009.
Susan Greenbank (Brisbane) Susan has worked in health care - including health promotion, advocacy, communications, public relations, behavioural research and adminstration - for over 13 years and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Health Promotion/Psychology). She is currently the manager of the Queensland Diabetes Centre at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane. Susan enjoys organising events and in 2009 introduced a seminar series for people with Type 1 diabetes in South East Queensland. Susan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1992 at the age of 17.
Bill Murray (Bendigo, Victoria) Bill has been a technical expert with a domestic satellite service for over 20 years, and has also worked as an electorate officer for a state Member of Parliament. Bill is active in state and federal politics and has been a member of various campaign committees since 1988. He is currently a delegate to the state conference of a political party and campaign manager for a federal politician. Among Bill’s other involvements in community organisations have been executive positions on kindergarten and school committees. Bill Murray is the father of a 19 year-old who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just after her third birthday. He has co-managed the Munted Pancreas online community for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes since 2007 and joined the Management Committee in 2009.
Tracy Rail (Canberra) Tracy has worked as an industry and regulatory policy analyst and manager in the federal government for over 20 years, including the infrastructure and industry departments. She has managed organisational reviews, and participated in Council of Australian Government policy reviews. She is a committee member of a local Canberra community choir. Tracy has qualifications in economics and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1972.
Jane Reid (Cooranbong, NSW) Jane has had Type 1 diabetes for 45 years, and over the past ten years has come to realise the importance of a strong lobby for people with Type 1. She has experienced various complications and setbacks with Type 1, but is determined not to let it rule her life. Her working life was mostly as a medical secretary, until she returned to university as a mature age student. She now has a BA (Hons) in Ancient History and Classics, and will soon return to university to pursue a research degree in Greco-Romano Art and mythology. Jane is a trained singer and sang semi-professionally as a soloist and chorister in various choirs, notably the Central Coast Chorale. She is the secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce. Jane is married to John, who gives great and unconditional support as only an experienced Type 3 can.
Susannah Trigg (Sydney) Susannah is a practising solicitor working in a national law firm in the areas of commercial and property law. She has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in psychology. Susannah was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2000, while completing her final year of high school. Susannah has found the support of the Reality Check online community to be invaluable in dealing with the daily task of living with diabetes. She joined the Management Committee in 2009.
Henry Vila (Melbourne) Henry is a successful business manager with a focus on strategy and technology leadership. Henry has held a number of positions in Australia, USA and Latin America in the Telecoms, Internet Media, Banking, Insurance and Manufacturing sectors and holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and undergraduate studies in Computer Science. Diagnosed with type 1 as an adult, Henry has been a member of the Reality Check online community for a number of years, became a moderator in 2008 and joined the Management Committee in 2009.
Belinda Williams (Melbourne) Belinda is Melbourne-based but country born and raised. Currently working as a corporate manager in client service and staff training, Belinda previously worked for eight years in the health and fitness industry. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 12, she had a relatively uncomplicated ‘initiation period’ as her younger sister had been living with diabetes since she was just twelve months of age. Fond memories of Anglesea Diabetic Camps as both a camper and a leader, Belinda joined the Management Committee in 2009 and hopes to help other Type 1's get connected, and to also increase the profile and understanding of the Type 1 Diabetes Network within the wider community.
