ADEA is pleased to recognise the four ADEA members who received Novo Nordisk travel grants to attend IDF-WPR 2026, ADC 2026 and Metabolic Diseases 2026 in Melbourne.
The travel grants supported ADEA members working across regional, rural and remote communities to take part in Congress, connect with colleagues and bring new knowledge and insights back to their local teams and communities.
ADEA received a strong number of thoughtful and insightful applications from members across Australia. Each application reflected the commitment, care and important contribution of diabetes health professionals supporting people living with diabetes in their local communities.
The 2026 Novo Nordisk travel grant recipients were:
Licke Lewis
Alice Springs Hospital, Northern Territory
Jenna Matters
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Western Australia
Kieran Woodford
Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, Western Australia
April Saladores
Correctional Health, Central Australia
The recipients were welcomed during Congress, including at the Novo Nordisk exhibition stand, where they could connect with colleagues and representatives from across the diabetes sector.
ADEA thanks Novo Nordisk for supporting this opportunity and helping improve access to Congress participation for regional, rural and remote ADEA members.
Meet the travel grant recipients
Licke Lewis
Alice Springs Hospital, Northern Territory
Licke Lewis is a Registered Nurse and Credentialled Diabetes Educator at Alice Springs Hospital, where she has worked in Central Australia for the past seven years.
She provides diabetes care in a region with high rates of diabetes, particularly across rural and remote communities where access to specialist services and professional development opportunities can be limited.
Licke is passionate about improving care for children and young people living with type 2 diabetes and is keen to expand her knowledge of new therapies, pathophysiology and innovative models of care.
She plans to share the knowledge gained from Congress with her multidisciplinary team to help strengthen diabetes care across Central Australia.
Jenna Matters
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Western Australia
Jenna Matters is a Credentialled Diabetes Educator and Registered Nurse with Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, delivering culturally safe diabetes care across the remote West Kimberley region.
She also holds eligibility for registration as an Accredited Practising Dietitian, enabling her to provide multidisciplinary support to Aboriginal communities experiencing high rates of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
In addition to her clinical role, Jenna is a Clinical Supervisor who mentors and supports health professionals working towards Credentialled Diabetes Educator status, helping to build workforce capability across the region.
Jenna plans to translate Congress learnings into staff education, updated clinical resources and improved multidisciplinary diabetes care for remote communities.
Kieran Woodford
Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, Western Australia
Kieran Woodford is an Accredited Practising Dietitian providing primary health care services across the remote Ngaanyatjarra Lands in Western Australia.
He works in communities experiencing high rates of chronic disease and without permanent Credentialled Diabetes Educators. Kieran is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes, with the goal of becoming a Credentialled Diabetes Educator.
Attending Congress will support Kieran to strengthen his knowledge of evidence-based diabetes care, new technologies and culturally responsive care.
Kieran plans to use this learning to enhance diabetes education, support local health professionals and strengthen chronic disease care for Aboriginal communities across the region.
April Saladores
Correctional Health, Central Australia
April Saladores is a Nurse Practitioner working in diabetes care within the correctional health system in Central Australia.
She is dedicated to improving diabetes care for people who experience barriers to ongoing health care and diabetes support, particularly First Nations peoples who may have complex health needs and limited access to culturally safe care.
April is committed to delivering culturally safe, person-centred care and sees Congress as an opportunity to strengthen her expertise in contemporary diabetes care, technology and education.
She intends to apply this knowledge to improve patient education, optimise diabetes care, strengthen discharge planning and advocate for better long-term support for people living with diabetes in correctional health settings.
Supporting members to bring Congress learning back to local communities
The Novo Nordisk travel grants reflect ADEA’s commitment to recognising and supporting members working across diverse practice settings, including regional, rural and remote communities where access to professional learning and specialist diabetes education can be limited.
ADEA congratulates Licke, Jenna, Kieran and April, and looks forward to hearing how the knowledge, connections and insights gained through Congress continue to support their work with people living with diabetes, their families and communities.
ADEA thanks Novo Nordisk for supporting this opportunity and helping improve access to Congress participation for regional, rural and remote ADEA members.
------------------------------
Jeffrey Fan
Marketing and Communications Officer
ADEA
------------------------------