Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre boost

An innovative facility which will provide support for families of children with Type 1 diabetes has today been presented with a Lotterywest grant.

  • $400,000 Lotterywest grant to Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre

  • Family centre will support families of children with Type 1 diabetes

An innovative facility which will provide support for families of children with Type 1 diabetes has today been presented with a Lotterywest grant.

Presenting the $400,000 grant to the Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre - which is currently under construction - Health Minister Kim Hames said the centre would assist the families of more than 120 Western Australian children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes each year.

"Type 1 diabetes not only has an impact on the life of the child diagnosed with the condition, but also has a significant impact on the other members of their family," Dr Hames said.

"The Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre will be the first of its kind in Australia and will take a holistic approach that complements the excellent clinical care on offer here in WA with vital support for the wellbeing of families of children with Type 1 diabetes."

The Minister said the State Government recognised the need to provide community-based support for families affected by juvenile diabetes and was a strong supporter of the centre.

"Today's grant is part of an overall contribution to the family centre by Lotterywest which is expected to total $1.4million," he said.

"The State Government is also very proud to have contributed the land in Stirling for the family centre to be built on."

Plans for the family centre include emotional wellness support programs, establishing peer support networks, provision of in-depth diabetes education and information and engaging children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes in a range of activities.

Construction on the Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre is under way and it is expected to open in early 2015.

       Fact File

  • The Telethon Juvenile Diabetes Family Centre is being constructed by BGC in Stirling, and has been supported by Telethon and the State Government, including through Lotterywest

  • Lotterywest provided $124.5million in direct grants to 1,197 community and charitable organisations in 2013-14 and is the only lottery in Australia where proceeds are distributed directly to the community

Minister's office  - 6552 5300