Diabetes Volunteer Opportunity for Students

MESSAGE FROM EMMA BRISKEY, DIABETES AUSTRALIA:

I am a project officer with Diabetes Australia – Queensland and have recently developed a new community speakers program called know the score. Know the score is a free program which aims to raise awareness about type 2 diabetes including the risk factors, complications and how it can be prevented through healthy eating, regular physical activity and by achieving a healthy weight. It is targeted at adults who don’t already have diabetes (does not address diabetes management at all). 

Know the score has been developed in response to the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, with 60 people in Queensland alone diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every day. Here at Diabetes Australia - Queensland we receive a lot of requests to speak to community groups about type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately we are unable to fulfil a large number of these requests due to limited staff capacity and the cost to send out a health professional is often prohibitive to many community groups. We are hopeful that know the score will help fill this gap. Know the score is delivered across the state by trained volunteers who deliver the presentations to various groups in their local communities. With the rate of type 2 diabetes increasing by about 40% in Townsville between 2007 and 2011, I think this is a timely and valuable program for the local community.

I am currently recruiting volunteers for an upcoming training to be held in Townsville on Thursday 8th March, 2012 at the university and invite students within the school of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition to attend. 

I’m also after volunteers from all across Queensland however you need to be able to attend the one-day training session. Upcoming trainings I have scheduled at this stage are:

• 8th March – Townsville
• 15th March – Cairns
• 29th March – Hervey Bay
• 19th April – Roma

Training is free of charge and participants will be provided with a manual and all the resources they require to deliver the community presentations. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are also provided. I have attached a Volunteer Information Pack and Registration Form as well.

Any interested students can contact me via email emmab@diabetesqld.org.au or on (07) 3506 0958.

Thank-you for your consideration.

Kind regards,
Emma