DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinic brings care closer to home

The St Vincent’s DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinic is helping to transform the way diabetes care is delivered in the Murrumbidgee region – bringing expert support directly to rural and regional communities.

What is the DREAM Initiative?

DREAM stands for Diabetes Regional Education, Access and Management. It’s a collaborative outreach initiative designed to improve access to specialist diabetes care for patients living in rural and remote areas.

Launched in February 2024, DREAM is a partnership between St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN), and Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), with vital support from the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.

Meeting patients where they are

Travelling long distances to access specialist care is a major barrier for many people living with diabetes in the Murrumbidgee. The DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinic brings highly specialised care closer to home, reducing the burden of travel and wait times for patients.

So far, DREAM clinics have been held in Tumut, Gundagai, Young, Hay, Adelong, Leeton, Lake Cargelligo, Griffith, Wagga Wagga and West Wyalong. More than 150 diabetes patients have already received individualised support through the program.

From left: MPHN Primary Care Engagement Officer Alanah Christie, with Endocrinologist and Diabetes Specialist Dr Nèle Lenders and Diabetes Educator Gael Holters from St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

From left: St Vincent’s Hospital Network Clinical Nurse Consultant and Credentialed Diabetes Educator Gael Holters, MPHN Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Manager Maxine Honeysett, MPHN Primary Care Engagement Officer Alanah Christie, RivMed Nurse Practitioner and Credentialed Diabetes Educator Leigh Spokes, St Vincent’s Hospital Network Endocrinologist and Diabetes Specialist Dr Nele Lenders, RivMed Senior Medical Officer Dr Rachael Fikkers.

Breaking down barriers to specialist care

Patients in the region often face challenges such as:

  • Limited access to diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists

  • Cost and availability of services

  • Long wait times for specialist appointments

DREAM is working to address these challenges by delivering clinics that:

  • Provide face-to-face access to diabetes specialists

  • Support local GPs and clinicians with training and knowledge-sharing

  • Empower patients with tools to manage their diabetes more confidently

A collective effort

The DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinic is made possible through the generosity of the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, and the shared commitment of our partner organisations to ensure high-quality healthcare is accessible to everyone – no matter where they live.

Contact

Alanah Christie
Primary Care Engagement Officer
Alanah.Christie@mphn.org.au