News

This National Diabetes Week, the spotlight is on prevention and early intervention to create a healthier future for everyone. In Western NSW, a series of ECHO sessions facilitated by Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) is supporting that goal – bringing together local GPs, GP registrars, nurses, pharmacists, Aboriginal health professionals, and allied health practitioners to build knowledge, confidence, and capacity in Type 2 Diabetes care.

Since September 2024, WNSW PHN has delivered seven virtual Type 2 Diabetes ECHO sessions and one live masterclass, with more than 160 health professionals participating across the region. The sessions provide a unique opportunity for clinicians to discuss real patient cases with a multidisciplinary panel of experts and peers, including endocrinologists, GPs, and credentialled diabetes educators.

Delivered monthly, each session follows the Project ECHO® model; a collaborative learning network where clinicians receive specialist advice in real time, boosting both skills and community connections. Participants are encouraged to present cases, with GPs eligible to claim MBS case conferencing items.

This year’s ECHO focus has been on newly diagnosed patients, leading up to the Western NSW Type 2 Diabetes Masterclass in June. Case presentations by local practice nurses, pharmacists, and care partnership hub members have sparked valuable, practical discussion, earning the program 100% ratings for overall experience and relevance from participant feedback.

“Every session I attend there is always something new I have learnt,” said one participant. Others described the sessions as “excellent,” “interactive,” and “a great combination of education and discussion.”

Expert panellists have included Dr Manik Mayadunne and Dr Minoli Abeysekera (Endocrinologists), GPs Dr Martin Watson and Dr Alex Hoyle, and Credentialled Diabetes Educators Alison Amor and Amanda Taylor. The learning outcomes reflect best-practice care, with a strong emphasis on individualised treatment, evidence-based lifestyle interventions, and a team-based approach to addressing barriers in care.

The next series of Type 2 Diabetes ECHO sessions will begin mid August 2025, with registrations for the first session opening soon. To be notified when registrations open, sign up to the WNSW PHN Primary Health Newsletter here, or keep an eye on the WNSW PHN Upcoming Events page or the Rural Health Training Calendar.

The Type 2 Diabetes ECHO series has been made possible through the Care Partnership – Diabetes program, a collaboration between the Western NSW Local Health District, the Far West Local Health District, the Western NSW Primary Health Network, and Rural Doctors Network.