Type 1 Care Packs Program

A type 1 diabetes diagnosis is a very difficult time and we wish to bring some light and joy into a child's life with a care pack made to do just that.  Our care designer backpacks include a fluffy dog, a designer candle, a funky trucker cap, a drink bottle, pencil case, hypokit with jellybeans, an activity folder with craft and art to entertain the child when in hospital; a journal; and a beanie just for them and some distraction activities that they can do, such as colouring in packs.  Added to the pack are some vital educational information and materials, with local and national support information and some emergency items for their family whilst in hospital.  

The Type1 Club

The Type 1 Foundation Club will provide information for parents, families and the wider community about how to manage their mental health and navigation tips during their various life cycle living with Type 1 diabetes.  The Club aims to provide people with Type1 Diabetes the tools and resources to manage their mental health and wellbeing through the following initiatives: Family Sessions with a US Type1 expert; Podcast interviews with a specialised psychologist on various subjects: Webinar sessions with family therapist Amanda Stokes, a tween and teen specialist: Video uploads about how to support tweens and teens; Adult counselling sessions with Sian Pritchard, a mental health chronic disease nurse; Type1 Podcast Real Life Interviews with parents or individuals and their experiences; Mental Health Retreats for both child and parent and for adults only.

Interactive cooking classes for the teens and specific carb counting class for parents of teens and their teens to help with their nutrition and diet. We will conduct online classes for parents of teens and teens to provide valuable information and support about teen activities, such as the ramifications of drinking and peer pressure at parties. These classes will connect parents and teens and provide a forum to share information about risky behaviour that teens can be exposed to.  A pen pal club has been launched to offer teens the experience of writing and receiving mail and encouraging other forms of interaction which will connect Geelong teens to other teens across Australia with Type1 diabetes. “Message from the Stars” is being implemented to encourage teens to participate in the clubs activities, with those who are engaged the opportunity to receive a ‘Message from the Stars’ tailored to that teen and their celebrity or sporting interest who will send them the message of support.

We want to be able to provide more information, more links and resources to raise awareness and support people of all ages living with Type1 diabetes, to ensure we give them the best information and support about their mental health and wellbeing. Our ultimate aim is to ensure children, individuals and their families know they are not alone, we are here to help and support them with their mental health and wellbeing.

Don’t Ignore the 4 - Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Campaign

The Type 1 Foundation mission is to promote awareness of type 1 diabetes to reduce the incidences of misdiagnosis. We are creating a media campaign which incorporates posters and a short 30 second advertisement to be sent and advertised at every hospital emergency department, medical centre, General Practitioner’s and doctors surgery in Australia and screened as a CSA on national television.  Most GPs will very rarely see a child who presents with type 1 diabetes, but it is such an important diagnosis to make, as early diagnosis and referral will prevent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and potentially save lives. Every year 640 children and adults are admitted to hospital because the early signs of type 1 diabetes are missed.  Diabetes awareness campaigns targeting GPs and schools have shown dramatic reduction in DKA rates for people living with type 1 and 2 diabetes. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the four main symptoms; TIRED WEIGHT LOSS THIRSTY & TOILET; associated with type 1 diabetes that are often missed to prevent children and adults from ever being misdiagnosed, to prevent DKA. Undiagnosed type 1 diabetes is fatal and the trauma of having a child in DKA is life long and irreversible. It is estimated that there is over 7000* GP establishments in Australia that we are going to target as part of this campaign. (*https://ama.com.au/article/general-practice-facts)

Mentors Matter Program

The Type1 Foundation is very proud to introduce the Mentors Matter program. This innovative program allows people living with or parenting a child with Type1 Diabetes to become a mentor to a person or family recently diagnosed with the disease.

The T1F Young Mentor Program is focused on kids and adults are encouraged to sign up to support a young person living with Type1 Diabetes. It provides a person living with Type1 a place where they can learn and grow. Type1 children being mentored are encouraged to work hard and to dream big. This program is designed to help a young person living with Type1 navigate adolescence and pursue dreams that may have seemed out of reach. Anyone over the age of 18 is encouraged to become a mentor. You don’t need to have any certain talent, just a positive attitude and a caring nature. The desired outcome for our T1F Young Mentor Program is to allow children to maintain self-discipline and gain valuable and practical experience living with Type1 Diabetes. Gaining self-confidence and develop life skills from someone who has already experienced these stages.

The T1F Family Mentor Program is focused on Parents living with type1 supporting another parent. Parents who may have been living with a type1 child for some time are encouraged to become a mentor to support a family newly diagnosed or going through a tough time. This unique program is designed to allow parents to support and connect with each other. The desired outcome of this family program is giving families positive role models and confidence, therefore maintain positive physical and mental health.

Sign up today to become a mentor or to receive a mentor. https://form.jotform.co/91207629563865  

Type 1 Voice

The Type 1 Foundation Board are excited to announce their amalgamation with Type 1 Voice to expand their vision and to broaden their support services. 

The Type1 Foundation will assume and grow the key advocacy function of Type 1 Voice to strengthen the collective voice of those living with type 1 diabetes. The joining of these two successful consumer organisations to represent the best interests of those living with type 1 diabetes is an exciting development. 

The Type 1 Foundation are a committed community organisation who are going from strength to strength, providing support, awareness and connection to the Type1 diabetes community. They are filling a gap, delivering support to families living with type 1 diabetes, which has been embraced by this growing community of engaged families. 

The 125,000 individuals living with type 1 diabetes in Australia are underrepresented and are struggling to achieve the quality of life they deserve. Type 1 Foundation Founder Ange Liston- McCaughley said, “This has to change, and bringing on board Type 1 Voice’s key advocacy functions will be a game changer for the type 1 community”. 

Since forming in 2006, Type 1 Voice, has been a pioneer in influencing positive outcomes for individuals and giving families living with type 1 diabetes a true voice. Their success in achieving significant outcomes has ultimately come from listening and understanding the needs of the type 1 community. Past advocacy initiatives have included the extension of carer payments, health supporting workplaces policy, development of the best practice international position statement for type 1 diabetes at school, and development of the world first Parent Guide and Clinician Guide. 

T1F Babysitters Club

We at the Type1 Foundation believe every family needs some respite and most of all a date night out! Parenting a child with Type1 can have an enormous emotional strain on marriage and family relationships.
We are super excited to launch our T1F Babysitters Club. This is a service where you can register as a babysitter or access the list of babysitters available in your area.
All you need to do is register either as a babysitter or as a family looking for a babysitter with experience with Type1 or a nurse, or training to be a healthcare professional.
We will help link you with a suitable babysitter in your local area via a list of all registered babysitters.

https://form.jotform.co/90562130151848

T1F Running Group

In 2016-2017 Our CEO Ange Liston-McCaughley ran 10 Marathons in 1 year in every state and territory of Australia. The reason behind taking up such a challenge was to raise awareness of Type1 Diabetes. And also raise funds in order to create the Type1 Foundation..

Since then hundreds have followed and run Marathons and fun runs to support our cause!

Get involved and Run for Type1! Keep fit, and smash your fitness goals this year! Walk, run or jog, 5km, 10km or go for the big ones Half or full Marathon- there’s something for everyone!

The Type1 Foundation proudly participates in numerous running events around Australia every year to raise awareness and funds for Type1 Diabetes.

Sign up today to Run for Type1 and fundraise for our cause by participating in an event and setting up a mycause.com page.