A lasting legacy: building a stronger diabetes workforce in Western and Far West NSW

For the last three years, Rural Doctors Network has led the workforce development and service enhancement components of The Care Partnership - Diabetes (CP-D) program. Funded by NSW Ministry of Health, the program was designed to improve health outcomes for people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Far West and Western NSW Local Health District regions.

CP-D services support improved patient access to clinical care, professional development for health practitioners, GP practice and ACCHS-led services; and health system improvements. Rural Doctors Network has worked closely with partners to strengthen the diabetes workforce and improve access to diabetes care through targeted education, scholarships, workforce support initiatives and service enhancement projects.

Recently, health professionals had the opportunity to reflect on the success of the program during the Western Diabetes Network Evening in Dubbo, held last month alongside several impactful diabetes education workshops.

RDN_Article_Image_CaptionsBorders_-_2026-07-06T123115.442.png Hosted by Rural Doctors Network, Senior Project Coordinator for the WNSW Collaborative Commissioning Partnership, Leah Pascoe, said the evening (and subsequent weeks) offered not only an opportunity to reflect on the program’s success, but to celebrate the impact it has had, and continues to make.

“There's so much to be proud of," Leah said. "Excitingly, the impact of The Care Partnership - Diabetes program has already been felt and, hopefully, will be felt across Western and Far West NSW for years to come – leaving a lasting legacy on many generations,” she said.

“One of the program's greatest successes has been the strong partnerships established between Rural Doctors Network, Western NSW Local Health District, Far West Local Health District, Western NSW Primary Health Network, University of Technology Sydney, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, Diabetes Australia, local health services and community partners," Leah said.

“These collaborations have enabled the delivery of locally responsive initiatives that address workforce challenges and improve access to diabetes care across some of NSW's most geographically dispersed communities.

Now, as the Collaborative Commissioning CP-D program has come to an end, partners will continue to explore opportunities to sustain what's already been achieved and are hopeful of pursuing new anevues to expand and enhance outcomes to benefit the community.

“It’s been great to witness the CP-D program creating lasting change by strengthening the diabetes workforce, educating the community and benefiting the broader health system," Leah said.

“The program has built local capability and supported sustainable improvements in diabetes care for rural and remote communities and we will continue to look for opportunities to continue this great work,” Leah said.

What impact has the Program made?

CP-D has made a lasting contribution to strengthening diabetes care across Western and Far West NSW. Through workforce development, education, partnership building and service improvement, the program has strengthened the capacity of health professionals and services to provide high-quality diabetes care and has laid the foundations for improved health outcomes for people living with diabetes. Most importantly, CP-D has contributed to building a stronger, more confident and better-connected diabetes workforce that will continue to support rural and remote communities into the future.

RDN_Article_Image_CaptionsBorders_-_2026-07-06T125006.596.png Building a sustainable diabetes workforce was a major focus of the program. Through scholarships, bursaries and study support, CP-D enabled 14 health professionals to complete a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, with a further four participants on track to complete their studies within the next six months. The program is also supporting five Aboriginal Health Practitioners to undertake the Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, representing an important investment in strengthening the Aboriginal health workforce and supporting culturally responsive diabetes care across Western and Far West NSW. In addition, three health professionals undertook other postgraduate studies to strengthen diabetes care capacity within their communities, with two already completing their qualifications and the third expected to finish within the next six months.

CP-D also invested in workforce development through travel grants, accommodation subsidies and professional development funding. More than 50 health professionals were supported to attend short courses, conferences and other learning opportunities, helping to reduce the barriers often faced by those working in rural and remote communities and ensuring greater access to professional development opportunities.

Leah said, “These achievements are helping to address workforce shortages across rural and remote NSW by increasing local access to skilled diabetes professionals and supporting pathways toward credentialling as Diabetes Educators.”

Supporting health professionals throughout their learning journey was another key element of the program. In addition to scholarships and study support, CP-D provided wrap-around supports designed to help participants successfully complete their studies and progress their diabetes careers. This included regular check-ins, peer support opportunities, networking activities and assistance navigating pathways towards credentialling.

RDN_Article_Image_CaptionsBorders_-_2026-07-06T125226.026.png A lasting achievement of the program has been the establishment of the Western Diabetes Education Network, which now connects 45 members from across Western and Far West NSW. The network brings together Diabetes Educators, health professionals undertaking diabetes studies and those with an interest in diabetes care, creating opportunities for collaboration, peer learning and professional support.

“For health professionals working in rural and remote locations, the network has played an important role in reducing professional isolation, strengthening connections across the region and providing a platform to share knowledge, resources and experiences,” Leah said. “By supporting ongoing engagement and professional development, the network has helped build a stronger and more connected diabetes workforce that will continue beyond the life of the CP-D program.”

Recognising that diabetes care extends beyond clinicians, CP-D also invested in non-clinical workforce development. More than 100 non-clinical health professionals participated in workshops designed to increase understanding of diabetes and strengthen the role they play in supporting people living with diabetes. Participants included administration staff, receptionists, Aboriginal Health Workers, transport staff and other frontline workers who often provide the first point of contact for patients. These workshops focused on diabetes awareness, culturally safe communication, health literacy, patient engagement and practical strategies to support better health outcomes.

The program also delivered a range of clinical education workshops in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council and Diabetes Australia. Delivered across regional and remote locations including Dubbo, Broken Hill and other communities across Western and Far West NSW, these workshops provided practical, evidence-based training to healthcare professionals and created valuable opportunities for networking, peer support and knowledge sharing. The workshops strengthened participant confidence in diabetes management, promoted culturally responsive approaches to care, and supported the delivery of contemporary diabetes education in rural and remote settings.

During workshops delivered in Western and Far West NSW, the program received some overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants.

“I will use this every day”, “very informative” and “I will be better equipped to support discharge of ward patients” were among the comments received from participants following the sessions.

A primary health nurse who attended a Wentworth workshop said:

“This is awesome. We don’t normally get this sort of education. I will use this every day.”

Aboriginal Health Practitioner and participant, Estelle Bowden, said the hands-on approach was especially valuable.

“It’s great to know about technology available to better support clients. The hands-on teaching is awesome,” Estelle said.

Supporting diabetes care through GP and ACCHS Service Enhancements Projects

Alongside workforce development activities, CP-D invested in service enhancement initiatives delivered through 14 general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) across Western and Far West NSW. These projects were designed to strengthen local diabetes services, improve access to care and support innovative approaches to diabetes management within primary healthcare settings.

Through tailored service enhancement models, participating practices and ACCHSs were supported to improve diabetes care pathways, increase patient engagement, enhance care coordination and strengthen multidisciplinary approaches to diabetes management. The projects enabled services to identify local priorities and implement solutions that responded to the unique needs of their communities, helping to improve access to diabetes support closer to home.

The service enhancement stream enhanced collaboration between primary care providers, Aboriginal health services and local health partners, contributing to more integrated and patient-centred diabetes care. Importantly, these initiatives helped build organisational capability and supported sustainable improvements that will continue to benefit people living with diabetes beyond the life of the program. RDN_Article_Image_CaptionsBorders_-_2026-07-06T124204.934.png

Awarded for advancing diabetes care

Last year, four dedicated rural health practitioners, who were undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education through UTS with support from the CP-D program, were awarded for their commitment to diabetes education and service to their communities.

The health professionals were awarded for Advancing Diabetes Care in Western and Far West NSW at the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) 2025 Faculty of Health Scholarships and Prizes Ceremony.

At the time, the four were among 18 rural health professionals across the Western and Far West NSW regions being supported by the CP-D program to become Credentialled Diabetes Educators.

How Rural Health Pro supported the CP-D program

Rural Health Pro is a community designed by RDN to support health professionals working in rural and remote settings. Its mobile app and online platform provide tailored resources, training opportunities, and connections to peers. The platform brings together a community of over 15,000 health professionals with research showing it achieves its goal of supporting practitioner capability.

As part of the CP‑D program, Rural Health Pro was used to strengthen the diabetes workforce in Western NSW through a dedicated microsite that brought together in one place details of the workforce enablers delivered by the CP-D program partners. The microsite featured details about CP‑D services, technology enablers, training, news and an online community of practice. This enabled a community of practice where professionals could share knowledge, seek advice, and collaborate.