Capability Framework for Diabetes Care


DC logo v2

The Capability Framework for Diabetes Care, ‘the Framework’, and the associated online resources, launched in 2022, aim to develop a competent, flexible and adaptive workforce and guide the practice of nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers or Practitioners, pharmacists, midwives and health assistants when delivering care to people living with diabetes in Australia.
The seven Practice Levels of the Capability Framework for Diabetes CareThe Framework provides a nationally consistent approach to learning and training different healthcare providers and disciplines in diabetes care. It defines the capabilities or knowledge, skills and abilities, required by healthcare providers to be effective in diabetes care. It is characterised by 9 core capabilities underpinned by 3 sets of attributes for 7 practice levels to enable the workforce. The Framework provides a consistent language and a shared understanding of the essential elements of diabetes care.
 

 . 
Learn more about the Framework

Click here to learn more about the Capability Framework for Diabetes Care.

Practice Level 1

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Foundational

owjbf3YShKAFGW1HmbU7_Capability-Framework-for-Diabetes-Care-Practice-Level-1-600px.jpeg

Roles
  • Assistant in Nursing
  • Personal Care Assistant
  • Health Care Assistant
  • Allied Health Assistant
  • Aged Care Worker
  • Pharmacy Assistant
  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Practitioner

An unregulated health assistant role that require, at minimum, completing a certificate II to III at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) or equivalent level. The individual working at this level provides personal care under the direction and supervision of a registered healthcare professional in partnership with people living with diabetes as part of their work. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to most certificate qualifications. Health assistants within Practice Level 1 will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at a foundational level in the following nine capabilities:

Display clinical assessment capacities
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Support awareness of risk factors for diabetes and its care.
  • Demonstrate foundational clinical measurement skills.

Support diabetes self-management education
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Promote foundational diabetes self-management education.
  • Encourage early diabetes prevention and screening.
  • Demonstrate awareness of foundational healthy eating and physical activity intervention.
  • Monitor for hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia.
  • Describe and support screening for diabetes-related complications.
  • Support care of the person with established cardiovascular disease.
  • Participate in quality diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness with people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.
  • Demonstrate awareness of healthcare needs of people living with an intellectual disability.

Build therapeutic relationships
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Support the person living with diabetes to identify solutions to improve health.
  • Value and respect diversity.
  • Be culturally sensitive.

Communicate with influence
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Adopt the Diabetes Australia position statement about language in conversations.
  • Incorporate good communication skills, to listen to and ensure the audience is understood.
  • Support transfer of diabetes information to their supervising health professional.

Support counselling to achieve agreed outcomes
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Support implementing a self-management plan.
  • Identify psychological distress.

Support quality use of medicines
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Identify and report basic issues that can impact on the use of medicines.

Display awareness of diabetes technology
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Display basic blood glucose and ketone monitoring skills.
  • Recognise technologies used to manage diabetes.
  • Be aware of and report basic issues that could impact insulin pump, CGM and Flash Glucose Monitoring technology.

Support care coordination
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Identify internal and external relationships.
  • Listen to and understand the needs of others.
  • Share learnings and support others.

Achieve quality
The health assistant listed under Practice Level 1 will:

  • Support quality improvement.

You can download the full Practice Level 1 document here.

Resources

Assessment

Diabetes education

Therapeutic relationships

Communication

Counselling

Quality use of medicines

Diabetes technology

Care coordination

Quality

Practice Level 2

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Practised
Capability-Framework-for-Diabetes-Care-Practice-Level-2-600px.jpg

Roles
  • Registered Nurse PT
  • Midwife PT
  • Allied Health Professional
  • Pharmacist
  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner PT
  • Enrolled Nurse PT

A registered nurse, midwife or pharmacist, or registered/accredited allied health professional who has just completed an undergraduate degree in health and certificate IV Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner or Health Worker. The enrolled nurse is listed in Practice Level 2 so as not to impede practice related to medicines management. All are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or their professional organisation, and they often work in the hospital setting but may be in other community or sub-acute type settings. Their role is not diabetes-specific, but as part of their work, they will be involved in the care of people living with diabetes, e.g. in-hospital, residential-aged-care facility or community setting.

Each capability in Practice Level 2 lists capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version) and the health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice level. Health professionals within Practice Level 2 will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at a practised level. It is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

* PT – Protected title used following endorsement by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Display clinical assessment capacities

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Demonstrate sound clinical assessment skills.
  • Assess for diabetes risk factors.

Support diabetes self-management education

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the pathophysiology of diabetes.
  • Apply chronic conditions self-management principles and education strategies.
  • Support diabetes prevention and early screening.
  • Reinforce healthy eating and physical activity intervention.
  • Monitor and manage glycaemic emergencies.
  • Assess for sick day management skills.
  • Advocate for and support appropriate diabetes care for people undergoing surgical procedures to enable quality in-hospital care.
  • Guide screening for diabetes-related complications.

PREGNANCY: When providing care in partnership with women, at risk of GDM, who are living with diabetes and are planning a pregnancy or are currently pregnant, the health professional will:

  • Promote screening for gestational diabetes mellitus.
  • Support and advocate for pre-conception care and pregnancy planning in people living with prediabetes or diabetes.
  • Awareness of the impact of both diabetes in pregnancy and of pregnancy on diabetes.

When providing care in partnership with women at risk of GDM, who are living with diabetes and are planning a pregnancy or are currently pregnant, the midwife, nurse and, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander will:

  • Engage in antenatal and postnatal care related to a pregnancy complicated by diabetes.

PAEDIATRICS: When providing care in partnership with young people living with diabetes, the health professional:

  • Assess for healthy growth and development in children and adolescents living with diabetes.
  • Promote health and wellbeing in children and adolescents living with diabetes.
OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS: When providing care in partnership with vulnerable people living with diabetes the health professional will:
  • Demonstrate awareness of and monitors and educate the person with established cardiovascular disease.
  • Promote improved diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.

Build therapeutic relationships

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Acknowledge, understand and respond to the needs of others.
  • Respect the informed health care decision of the person living with diabetes.
  • Incorporate cultural and diversity considerations into own practice.
  • Understand the importance of self-awareness in caring work.

Communicate with influence

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Communicate clearly and promote the Diabetes Australia language statement in conversations.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills, enabling the health professional to listen, understand and adapt to the audience.
  • Document precise records to support diabetes care.
  • Recognise signs of low health literacy and advocate for the persons’ healthcare.

Support counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Support the person make changes to fit diabetes into their life.
  • Identify emotional health.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of psychosocial impact of living with diabetes.

Support quality use of medicines

Those intending to be involved in the medicine capability should consider their professional scope of practice, the existence of a regulatory framework for escalation of adverse effects and insurance coverage.

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Describes basic classes of glucose-lowering medicines available to manage type 2 diabetes.
  • Identify insulins types and mode of action.
  • Identify and manage issues that can impact on quality use of medicines.

Also, when providing care in partnership with people living with diabetes, authorised registered or medication endorsed nurses or pharmacists within Practice Level 2 will:

  • Reinforce education for safe administration of injectable glucose-lowering medicines.
  • Consider whether the medicine can be administered safely.
  • Promote and incorporate quality use of medicines principles.

Also, when providing care in partnership with people living with diabetes, authorised registered or medication endorsed nurses within Practice Level 2 will:

  • Administer glucose-lowering medicines safely.

Display awareness of diabetes technology

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Demonstrate blood glucose and ketone monitoring skills.
  • Recognise technologies used to manage type 1 diabetes.
  • Recognise potential fundamental problems with insulin pump, or Continuous Glucose or Flash Glucose Monitoring sensor use.

Support care coordination

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Maintain accurate and confidential records of clinical care.
  • Engage in care coordination.
  • Listen to, understand and recognise the needs of others.
  • Share learning and supports others.

Achieve quality

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 2 will:

  • Engage in quality improvement.
  • Responsive to change.

You can download the full Practice Level 2 document here.

Resources

Those available for Practice Level 1 may also be helpful.

Assessment

National Diabetes Nursing Education Framework

Diabetes education training manual for Aboriginal health workers [ADEA member only]

Joint position statement on type 2 diabetes and remission

Absolute cardiovascular risk

Type 2 diabetes risk calculator

National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint-Practice Level 2

Diabetes education

National Diabetes Nursing Education Framework

Diabetes education training manual for Aboriginal health workers [ADEA member only]

Joint position statement on type 2 diabetes and remission

Absolute cardiovascular risk

Type 2 diabetes risk calculator

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint-Practice Level 2

Therapeutic relationships

National Diabetes Nursing Education Framework

Diabetes education training manual for Aboriginal health workers [ADEA member only]

Joint position statement on type 2 diabetes and remission

Absolute cardiovascular risk

Type 2 diabetes risk calculator

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint-Practice Level 2

Communication

Diabetes Australia – Position Statement – Our language matters

NDSS – Effective communication with people who have an intellectual disability about their diabetes guide

NDSS – Tailor your communication skills: a training module for health professionals caring for adults with diabetes and an intellectual disability learning module

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 2

Counselling

NDSS – Assisting people with diabetes to access professional psychological support guide

NDSS – Adjusting to life with diabetes

NDSS - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities ~ What do I need to do

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 2

Quality Use of Medicines

NDSS - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities ~ Why take medication

Steroids and diabetes fact sheet

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 2

Diabetes technology

NDSS – Continuous and flash glucose monitoring for health professionals

ADEA Webinar – Not just a Patch

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 2

Care coordination

NDSS – When and how psychologists can help people with diabetes

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

ADEA Diabetes Referral Pathways for adults and children with type 1 and 2 diabetes, GDM, pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes, and diabetes technology

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 2

Quality

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 2

Practice Level 3

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Experienced

pJsfYTWATVeUKmbQ4n8J_Capability-Framework-for-Diabetes-Care-Practice-Level-3-600px.jpeg

Roles
  • Primary Healthcare Nurse
  • Primary/Generalist Allied Health Professional
  • Midwife
  • Community Pharmacist
  • Practice Nurse
  • Community Nurse

A registered or accredited healthcare professional who has undertaken an undergraduate degree in health and is working in the primary or community health settings. Their role has a diabetes focus, or their workload includes a high percentage of people living with diabetes. Their role often accesses Team Care Arrangements through Medicare Chronic Conditions Management Plans.

Each capability in Practice Level 3 lists capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version) and the health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice levels. Health professionals within Practice Level 3 will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at an experienced level. To meet the capabilities, it is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

Display clinical assessment capacities

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Demonstrate sound clinical assessment skills.
  • Display a sound understanding of diabetes risk factors and impact on people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Support diabetes self-management education

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the pathophysiology of diabetes.
  • Apply chronic conditions self-management principles and education strategies.
  • Apply evidence-based and self-management education, interventions and techniques to improve outcomes for people living with prediabetes and diabetes.
  • Drive early diabetes prevention and screening.
  • Explain healthy eating and physical activity intervention.
  • Educate about, monitor and manage glycaemic emergencies.
  • Promote sick day self-management skills.
  • Guide screening for diabetes-related complications.

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS: When providing care in partnership with vulnerable people living with diabetes the health professional will:

  • Monitor and educate the person with established cardiovascular disease.
  • Drive quality diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.
  • Demonstrate cultural competence and advocate for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Build therapeutic relationships

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Recognise the emotions and unmet needs of people living with diabetes.
  • Identify and address barriers to engagement.
  • Promote culture and diversity in health planning.

Communicate with influence

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Promote healthy conversations with and for people living with diabetes.
  • Be aware of one’s own thoughts, emotions, communication style and boundaries.
  • Identify and draw attention to important diabetes information to support diabetes care.
  • Critically appraise health information sources and discuss with the person living with diabetes.

Support counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Promote implementation and monitoring of personalised self-management plans.
  • Incorporate counselling techniques and shared decision-making strategies to achieve outcomes.
  • Monitor for emotional health.
  • Coordinate care for people with psychosocial impact of living with diabetes.
  • Advocate for peer support engagement.

Support quality use of medicines

Those intending to be involved in the medicine capability should consider their professional scope of practice, the existence of a regulatory framework for escalation of adverse effects and insurance coverage.

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Recognise the action of all glucose-lowering medicines available to manage type 2 diabetes.
  • Promote therapeutic use of glucose-lowering medicines available to manage type 2 diabetes.
  • Demonstrate understanding of insulins types and mode of action.
  • Monitor issues that can impact on use of medicines and evaluates responses.
When delivering care to people living with diabetes, all authorised registered or medication endorsed nurses, pharmacists and Diabetes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner or Worker within Practice Level 3 will:

  • Educate the person living with diabetes or relevant others in injection technique.
In addition, when providing care in partnership with people living with diabetes, all registered or medication endorsed nurses or pharmacists, endorsed by their organisation within Practice Level 3 will:

  • Reduce medicines risk in people living with diabetes.

Display awareness of diabetes technology

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Demonstrate proficiency at blood glucose and ketone monitoring.
  • Display awareness of technologies used to manage diabetes.
  • Encourage the consumer to apply problem-solving skills for insulin pump, Continuous Glucose or Flash Glucose Monitoring sensor use.
  • Advocate for the use of diabetes technology in individuals with diabetes.

Support care coordination

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:
  • Support seamless transition through quality record keeping.
  • Develop care plans and manage care coordination.
  • Nurture relevant external relationships conducive to care of chronic conditions.
  • Share learning and support others.

Achieve quality

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 3 will:

  • Seek and critically review publications related to diabetes education and care to inform care.
  • Engage in quality improvement.
  • Responsive to change.

You can download the full Practice Level 3 document here.

Resources

Those available for previous Practice Levels may also be helpful

Assessment

National Association of Diabetes Centres (NADC) National Diabetes Care Course

National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) – Annual cycle of care

Diabetes Australia – Guideline for GDM diagnostic testing during COVID 19

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest] 

  • Monitoring and Point of Care Online Module
  • Diabetes and eye health Online Module
  • Gut Microbia and Type 1 Diabetes Webinar
  • Pre-diabetes Position Statement Webinar
  • The Quest to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes Webinar
  • Pathophysiology and Diabetes Self-Management Education principles Webinar
  • Diabetes In Aged Care Online Module

NADC: Primary Care Diabetes Webinars

FootForward for diabetes – Webinar Library

Diabetes Australia: Type 2 diabetes remission

Feltman ® or Feltmum ® 

Diabetes education

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

NDSS – Quality review tool ~ management of residents who have diabetes

NDSS – Diabetes management in aged care ~ a practical handbook

NDSS – Resident sick day plan

NDSS - National gestation diabetes register: https://www.ndss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ngdr-information-for-health-professionals.pdf and https://www.ndss.com.au/about-the-ndss/national-gestational-diabetes-register/

Diabetes Australia – Position Statement – Low Carb Eating

Diabetes Australia – Position Statement – One diet does not fit all

NDSS - Clinical guiding principles for sick day management of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

NDSS - Diabetes eLearning for the First Nations Health Workforce 

NDSS – Diabetes and driving

Therapeutic relationships

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

Diabetes Australia – Position Statement – Bariatric surgery

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Understanding the Pregnancy Journey for Women with Type 1 Diabetes Online Module
  • Thought Leadership Series Webinar
  • Living with Diabetes Webinar
  • Stigma and Diabetes

Communication

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Stigma and Diabetes Webinar
  • Thought Leadership Series

Lowitja – Deficit Discourse

Counselling

NDSS – Diabetes & emotional health

NDSS – Diabetes and emotional health questionnaire cards

NDSS – Diabetes and emotional health summary cards

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Chronic Conditions and Mental Health Symposium
  • Diabetes Distress Webinar
  • Living with Diabetes Webinar

Lowitja – Deficit Discourse

Quality Use of Medicines

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Medication for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Webinar
  • Medication and Evidence in Diabetes Webinar
  • Gut Microbia and Type 1 Diabetes Webinar
  • Pre-diabetes Position Statement Webinar

Diabetes technology

Diabetes Australia: People with type 1 diabetes and Do It Yourself (DIY) technology solutions

Diabetes Australia: Glucose self-monitoring in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Monitoring and Point of Care Online Module
  • New Technologies – CGM and Insulin Pumps Webinar

Telehealth platforms and practicalities Webinar

Care coordination

ADEA Diabetes Referral Pathways for type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes, children with type 1 and 2 diabetes and diabetes technology

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • National Diabetes Services Scheme, Insulin Pump Consumables and CGMs Online Module

Quality

NADC National Diabetes Care Course

NADC FootForward for diabetes – High Risk Foot Services Standards 

NADC FootForward for diabetes – High Risk Foot Services Accreditation

NADC – Diabetes Services Standards and Accreditation Program

Practice Level 4

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Proficient
Practice Level 4

Roles
  • Diabetes Educator (Allied Health Professional, Midwife, Nurse or Pharmacist)
  • Diabetes Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner

A registered or accredited health professional whose role has a key focus in diabetes care and management, they denote themselves as a diabetes educator and they may hold a relevant postgraduate degree. Or a certificate IV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner or Health Worker whose role focuses in diabetes, they have completed a postgraduate degree in diabetes and the ADEA credentialling pathway. The AHPRA or their professional organisation regulates them. They have knowledge and skills in diabetes and are committed to life-long learning that would make them eligible for credentialling as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator™.

Each capability in Practice Level 4 lists capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version) and the health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice levels. Health professionals within Practice Level 4 will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at a proficient level. To meet the capabilities, it is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

Exemplify clinical assessment capacities

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Demonstrate developed advanced clinical assessment skills in diabetes.
  • Campaign for early screening and diabetes prevention.

Shape diabetes self-management education, support and care

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of main diabetes types.
  • Engage in the advanced application of chronic conditions self-management principles.
  • Identify vulnerable populations and considers the impact of coexisting healthcare conditions.
  • Educate in healthy eating and physical activity intervention.
  • Display advanced skills in monitoring and managing glycaemic emergencies.
  • Display basic sick day management skills.
  • Promote knowledge of and screening for diabetes-related complications.

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS: When providing care in partnership with vulnerable people living with diabetes the health professional will:

  • Promote quality diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the importance of managing diabetes in acute care or hospital setting.

Build therapeutic relationships

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Recognise when there are difficulties engaging with an individual.

Communicate with influence and leadership

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Engage and commit to healthy conversations with and for people living with diabetes.
  • Demonstrates awareness of one’s interaction style and its impact.

Exemplify counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Tailor personalised diabetes self-management plans.
  • Counsel with meaning and shared decision-making.
  • Support connection with peer support groups and services for referral.

Exemplify quality use of medicines

Those intending to be involved in the medicine capability should consider their professional scope of practice, existence of a regulatory framework for escalation of adverse effects and insurance coverage.

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Understand combinations of glucose-lowering medicines available to manage type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of adverse effects.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of insulins regimens to achieve individualised goals.
  • Promote safe and effective handling and administration of diabetes medicines.

Support quality use of diabetes technology

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Demonstrate adept skills in blood glucose and ketone monitoring.
  • Support the use of diabetes technologies to manage diabetes.
  • Promote problem-solving skills for insulin pump, Continuous or Flash Glucose Monitoring sensor use.

Lead care coordination

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Engage in care coordination.
  • Participate as an active member of the interdisciplinary team.

Cultivate quality through leadership and research

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 4 will:

  • Identify relevant evidence-base to guide practice.
  • Engage in quality improvement.
  • Responsive to change.

You can download the full Practice Level 4 document here.

Resources

Those available for previous Practice Levels may also be helpful

Assessment

Feltman TM and Feltwoman TM ~ a diabetes teaching tool for Indigenous people

National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) ~ Capillary blood lancing devices in health care settings

NDSS ~ Understanding HbA1c measurements and reports

NDSS ~ Use of blood glucose meters

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • How to Assist your Patients with Kidney Disease Webinar
  • Diabetes and Eye Health Online Module
  • The Connection Between Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Webinar
  • Diabetes Remission Webinar
  • Pathophysiology and Diabetes Self-Management Education Principles Webinar
  • The Quest to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes education

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Annual Scientific Meeting Recordings
  • Oral Health and Diabetes Online Module
  • Diabetes and eye health Online Module
  • Counselling on Foot Care in Diabetes Online Module
  • Gut Microbia and Type 1 Diabetes Webinar
  • Exercise Recommendations Webinar
  • Pre-diabetes Position Statement Webinar
  • The Connection Between Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Webinar
  • Diabetes Remission Webinar
  • Mediterranean Diet and Diabetes Webinar

National Association of Diabetes Centres (NADC) ~ Primary Care Diabetes Webinars

NADC ~ FootForward for diabetes – Webinar Library

Diabetes Australia: Type 2 diabetes remission

Therapeutic relationships

NDSS ~ Person-centred care toolkit

NDSS ~ Person-centred care for people with diabetes

NDSS ~ Improving health literacy for people with diabetes

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Understanding the Pregnancy Journey for Women with Type 1 Diabetes Online Module
  • Thought Leadership Series Webinar
  • Living with Diabetes Webinar

Communication

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Stigma and Diabetes Webinar

Pathophysiology and Diabetes Self-Management Education Principles Webinar

Counselling

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Chronic Conditions and Mental Health Symposium
  • Thought Leadership Series Webinar
  • Diabetes Distress Webinar
  • Stigma and Diabetes Webinar

Quality Use of Medicines

NDSS ~ Improving health literacy for Australian credentialled diabetes educators and prescribing of insulin and glucose lowering agents

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Travelling with Diabetes Medicines Online Module
  • Medication for Type 2 diabetes Mellitus Webinar
  • Medication and Evidence in Diabetes Webinar

Diabetes technology

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Care coordination

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Natural Disaster Management & Planning Online Module
  • National Diabetes Services Scheme, Insulin Pump Consumables and CGMs Online Module
  • How to Assist your Patients with Kidney Disease Webinar

ADEA Diabetes Referral Pathways for type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes, children with type 1 and 2 diabetes and diabetes technology

Quality

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Implementation of the Nursing Education Framework Webinar
  • Credentialling FAQs Webinar

Practice Level 5A

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Advanced
Practice Level 5A

Roles
  • Credentialled Diabetes Educators [Novice] (Allied Health Professional, Midwife, Nurse or Pharmacist)

A CDE is a health professional working at an advanced practice level who meets the requirements of the ADEA for credentialling and has completed the minimum 1000 hours in diabetes practice and 6-month mentoring relationship. They hold at minimum a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education or Management and are responsible for delivering diabetes self-management education.

Each capability in Practice Level 5A has a lists of capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version). The health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice levels. Health professionals within Practice Level 5A will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at an advanced level. Practice level 5 is split into two, to allow for growth in development of the CDE from novice to experienced. To meet the capabilities, it is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

Exemplify clinical assessment capacities

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Demonstrate developed advanced clinical assessment skills in diabetes.
  • Campaign for early screening and diabetes prevention.

Shapes diabetes self-management education, support and care

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the pathophysiology of the major diabetes types.
  • Adapt to appropriate chronic condition self-management strategies for presentation.
  • Reduce the impact of diabetes on people from vulnerable groups with competing healthcare conditions.
  • Integrate an advanced understanding of healthy eating and physical activity interventions.
  • Provide education in and promote best practice care of people living with diabetes and prediabetes.
  • Apply health education skills to improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.
  • Demonstrate advanced skills in monitoring and managing glycaemic emergencies.
  • Demonstrate advanced sick day management skills.
  • Display advanced understanding of diabetes-related complications and their management.
OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS: When providing care in partnership with vulnerable people living with diabetes the health professional will:

  • Display advanced understanding of attributes of quality diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.
  • Advise of important principles for quality care of people living with diabetes in the in-hospital setting.

Build therapeutic relationships
The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Apply advanced strategies to support engagement.
  • Reflect on and address barriers to engagement.
  • Responds professionally to the persons’ expression of negative emotions.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness and caring for oneself.

Communicate with influence and leadership

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Promote a supportive, open and empathic conversation style.
  • Document precise, succinct and contextual records to support diabetes care.
  • Understand and apply learning principles according to the target audience.

Exemplify counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Consult in, develop and monitor personalised diabetes self-management plans in partnership with consumer.
  • Determine counselling techniques and shared decision-making to achieve outcomes.
  • Monitors for eating disorders and disordered eating and refers.
  • Coordinate care for people with evidence of psychosocial impact of living with diabetes.
  • Enable problem-solving by supporting the individual to identify attitudinal and affective factors which impact self-management behaviours.

Exemplify quality use of medicines

Those intending to be involved in the medicine capability should consider their professional scope of practice, the existence of a regulatory framework for escalation of adverse effects and insurance coverage. The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Support education in and appropriate choice of glucose-lowering medicine for pharmacotherapeutics management of type 2 diabetes.
  • Support quality use of insulin to manage diabetes.
  • Understand the place for complementary and alternative medicines in diabetes.

Exemplify quality use of diabetes technology

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Adeptly promote blood glucose and ketone monitoring and assessing blood glucose variability.
  • Capable of accessing and reviewing ambulatory glucose profiles (AGP).
  • Aid with diabetes technologies to manage diabetes.
  • Apply problem-solving skills for Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitoring sensor, and insulin pump use.

Lead care coordination

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Implement activities and processes that facilitate care coordination.
  • Promote and engage in interdisciplinary collaborative practice.

Cultivates quality through leadership and research

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Support research and quality improvement to build the evidence to promote improvements in self-management of prediabetes and diabetes education and care.

Practice Level 5B

Minimum expected clinical competence in diabetes - Advanced
Practice Level 5B

Roles
  • Credentialled Diabetes Educator TM [Experienced] (Allied Health Professional, Midwife, Nurse or Pharmacist)

A CDE working at an advanced practice level who has completed a relevant postgraduate certificate in diabetes education; however, a given research skills are required a postgraduate diploma is preferred. The CDE is considered competent with certain diabetes consumer groups, due to their work location. They should identify and be aware of their deficits when moving from one work setting to another and develop a plan for developing skills and knowledge in the deficit areas. For example, the CDE who has worked primarily in managing type 2 diabetes but then moves to a paediatric facility should see themselves as novices until they build the required skills.

Each capability in Practice Level 5B has a lists of capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version). The health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice levels. Health professionals within Practice Level 5B will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at an advanced level. To meet the capabilities, it is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

Exemplify clinical assessment capacities

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Demonstrate proven advanced clinical assessment skills in diabetes.
  • Campaign for earlier detection of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Shape diabetes self-management education, support and care

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of all types of diabetes.
  • Promote the use of chronic conditions self-management principles.
  • Manage complex diabetes impacted by coexisting conditions in vulnerable groups.
  • Provide an advanced explanation of healthy eating and physical activity interventions.
  • Provide structured education in and consults on best practice management and care of people living with diabetes and prediabetes.
  • Act as a health education consultant.
  • Consult in monitoring and managing glycaemic emergencies.
  • Consult in sick day management.
  • Act as a consultant for the management of diabetes-related complications.
OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS: When providing care in partnership with vulnerable people living with diabetes the health professional will:

  • Act as a consultant for quality diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.
  • Act as a consultant for managing people living with diabetes in acute or hospital settings.

Build therapeutic relationships
The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Encourage more adaptive behaviours or emotional responses from a person living with diabetes to a given trigger.
  • Integrate and mentor in principles of cultural competence and diversity in the organisation.
  • Incorporate self-awareness as a strategic approach to managing oneself and others.

Communicate with influence and leadership

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Mentor other health professionals in healthy conversations with and for people living with diabetes.
  • Advocates for effective communication skills in diabetes care.
  • Mentor others in record-keeping to improve support for diabetes care.

Exemplify counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Mentor and consult health professionals to support implementing and monitoring personalised self-management plans.
  • Mentor other health professionals in counselling techniques.
  • Lead care coordination for people with symptoms of psychosocial impact of living with diabetes.

Exemplify quality use of medicines

Those intending to be involved in the medicine capability should consider their professional scope of practice, the existence of a regulatory framework for escalation of adverse effects and insurance coverage. The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Incorporate quality use of medicines principles into decision-making.
  • Promote therapeutic use and monitor the impact of glucose-lowering medicines available to manage type 2 diabetes to ensure safe and effective use.
  • Optimise insulin therapy in people living with diabetes.

Exemplify quality use of diabetes technology

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Proficiently educate in and commence Flash and Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems.
  • Comprehend ambulatory glucose profiles and, reviews and analyses Continuous or Flash Glucose Monitoring reports.
  • Competently educate, commence and monitor Insulin Pump Therapy.

Lead care coordination

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Apply broad clinical and systems approaches to improve care coordination.
  • Cultivate an environment of collaborative practice and acts as a role model.

Cultivates quality through leadership and research

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 5 will:

  • Develop a culture of quality improvement.
  • Participate in research and quality improvement to build the evidence to promote improvements in self-management of prediabetes and diabetes education and care.
  • Embrace change towards improvements in diabetes care.

You can download the full Practice Level 5 document here.

Resources

Those available for previous Practice Levels may also be helpful

Assessment

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Mentor module

Mentee module

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 5

Diabetes education

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Webinars or Online Modules

  • Prediabetes Position Statement
  • Hearing and Diabetes
  • Oral Health and Diabetes
  • Annual Scientific Meeting Recordings
  • Diabetes and eye health Online Module
  • Counselling on Foot Care in Diabetes Online Module
  • Exercise Recommendations Webinar
  • Pre-diabetes Position Statement Webinar
  • How to Assist your Patients with Kidney Disease Webinar
  • The Connection Between Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Webinar
  • Diabetes Remission Webinar
  • Mediterranean Diet and Diabetes Webinar
  • NAIDOC Week Webinar

ADEA ~ Australian Diabetes Educator, Vol 23(2), 2020. - Planning for end of life care with older people with diabetes: hiding death in metaphors

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 5

Therapeutic relationships

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Understanding the Pregnancy Journey for Women with Type 1 Diabetes
  • Thought Leadership Series Webinar
  • Living with Diabetes Webinar
  • Stigma and Diabetes Webinar

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 5

Communication

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Pathophysiology and Diabetes Self-Management Education Principles

NDSS – Diabetes & emotional health

IREX ~ Effective Training: Essential Principles, Approaches, and Process: effective-training-principles-approaches-process.pdf (irex.org)

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 5

Counselling

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Chronic Conditions and Mental Health Symposium
  • Thought Leadership Series Webinar
  • Diabetes Distress Webinar

NDSS – Diabetes & emotional health

Australian Diabetes Society ~ Enhancing Your Consulting Skills: diabetessociety.com.au/publications.asp

NDSS ~ Concerns about starting insulin (for type 2 diabetes)

The Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders ~ SCOFF Questionnaire

Quality Use of Medicines

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Annual Scientific Meeting Recordings
  • Travelling with Diabetes Medicines Online Module
  • Medication for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Webinar
  • Medication and Evidence in Diabetes Webinar

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Article

DPP-4 Inhibitors Article

SGLT-2 Inhibitors Article

Diabetes technology

ADEA Learning Management System

Care coordination

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Natural Disaster Management & Planning Online Module
  • National Diabetes Services Scheme, Insulin Pump Consumables and CGM Online Module

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 5

Quality

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Implementation of Nursing Education Framework Webinar

DiaCafe PowerPoint Practice Level 5

Practice Level 6

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Expert
Practice Level 6

Roles
  • Specialist Credentialled Diabetes Educator [Expert]

The health professional within Practice Level 6 is a CDE who works at an advanced practice level and has met the requirements for credentialling by the ADEA. They hold a relevant postgraduate diploma in diabetes education or care, or be working towards a Master as an advanced practice health professional. They are an expert in diabetes care or within a field of diabetes care, e.g. pregnancy, paediatrics on insulin pump therapy.

Each capability in Practice Level 6 has a list of capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version). The health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice levels. Health professionals within Practice Level 6 will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at an expert level. To meet the capabilities, it is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

Exemplify clinical assessment capacities

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Illustrate comprehensive assessment skills in their specialty area.

Shape diabetes self-management education, support and care

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Provide education in and promote best practice management and care of people living with diabetes and prediabetes.
  • Demonstrate expertise in diabetes health education to improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.
  • Expertly monitor and manage glycaemic emergencies.
  • Develop personalised diabetes care related to healthy eating and, recreational activity and physical activity programs.
  • Expertly manage sick days in people living with diabetes.
  • Expertly screen or direct screening for diabetes-related complications.

PREGNANCY: When providing care in partnership with women, at risk of GDM, who are living with diabetes and are planning a pregnancy or are currently pregnant, the health professional will:

  • Expertly support and manage gestational diabetes mellitus.
  • Lead pre-conception care and pregnancy planning in women with diabetes or prediabetes.
  • Proficiently provide and coordinate ante- and postnatal care related to pre-existing diabetes.
  • Advocates for quality diabetes care in pregnancy.

PAEDIATRICS: When providing care in partnership with young people living with diabetes, the health professional will:

  • Proficiently provides care for healthy growth and development, and health and wellbeing in paediatrics and adolescents.
  • Astute to other issues in paediatrics and youth that impact diabetes care and coordinates care.
  • Leads transition of care from paediatric to adult clinics.

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS: When providing care in partnership with vulnerable people living with diabetes, the health professional will:

  • Coordinate and lead complex diabetes impacted by coexisting conditions or circumstances in vulnerable groups.
  • Provide expert advice on the care of people living with diabetes in the acute or in-hospital setting.
  • Demonstrate expertise in diabetes care in residential-aged-care and end-of-life stages.

Build therapeutic relationships
The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Mentor other health professionals in person-centred care.
  • Employ self-awareness for effective leadership.

Communicate with influence and leadership

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Integrate evidence-based knowledge on strategies to support healthy conversations with and for people living with diabetes.
  • Prepares fact sheets and supportive material in specialty field for diabetes care.
  • Lead change and endeavours to improve record-keeping and communications to support diabetes care.

Exemplify counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Integrate guidelines to support the development and quality monitoring of diabetes self-management plans into the organisation.
  • Incorporate nuances of counselling techniques related to specialty diabetes.
  • Incorporate measures and pathways for early screening, detection and care of the psychosocial impact of living with diabetes.

Exemplify quality use of medicines

Those intending to be involved in the medicine capability should consider their professional scope of practice, the existence of a regulatory framework for escalation of adverse effects and insurance coverage. The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Monitor for the therapeutic use of glucose-lowering medicines available to manage type 2 diabetes.
  • Monitor for and promote the therapeutic use of insulin to manage type 1 diabetes.
  • Promote optimisation of diabetes to target through development of novel tools or aides to support management and care.

Exemplify quality use of diabetes technology

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary diabetes technological advances.
  • Comprehensively explain the processes and logistics required to commence a person living with diabetes on an insulin pump.
  • Adeptly train a person living with type 1 diabetes regarding insulin pump therapy.
  • Adeptly monitor insulin pump therapy, Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitoring, and interpret ambulatory glucose profiles and reports.
  • Proficiently provide advice to people using insulin pump therapy to optimise care.

Lead care coordination

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Expertly tailors care plans and care coordination.
  • Establish a culture of collaboratively interdisciplinary practice.
  • Identify barriers and solutions to care coordination in the specialty area.

Cultivates quality through leadership and research

The health professional listed under roles in Practice Level 6 will:

  • Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Influence research and quality improvement to build the evidence base to improve lives of people living with diabetes and prediabetes.

You can download the full Practice Level 6 document here.

Resources

Those available for previous Practice Levels may also be helpful

Assessment

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) ~ Utilisation, access and recommendations regarding technologies for people living with type 1 diabetes: consensus statement of the ADS/ADEA/ADIPS/APEG Working Party: Australian Diabetes Society - Position Statements

ADS ~ Utilising the Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) combined with the Glucose Pattern Summary to Support Clinical Decision Making in Diabetes Care: Australian Diabetes Society - Position Statements

Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADiPS)  ~ AGP targets: ADIPS - Information for Health Care Providers

Diabetes education

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]:

  • Hearing and Diabetes Online Module
  • Oral Health and Diabetes Online Module
  • Annual Scientific Meetings Recordings
  • Diabetes and eye health Online Module
  • Counselling on Foot Care in Diabetes Online Module
  • Gut Microbia and Type 1 Diabetes Webinar
  • Exercise Recommendations Webinar
  • Pre-diabetes Position Statement Webinar
  • The Connection Between Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Webinar
  • Diabetes In Aged Care
  • Diabetes Remission Webinar
  • Mediterranean Diet and Diabetes Webinar
  • NAIDOC Week Webinar

ADiPS ~ Life after GDM and many resources in multicultural languages: ADIPS - Educational Resources

National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Having a healthy baby guide for women with type 1 diabetes – NDSS

APiPS ~ Educational information for First Nations Women: Maternal and Infant health ADIPS - Information forConsumers

NDSS ~ Diabetes in Schools program: Diabetes in Schools - Diabetes Australia

Therapeutic relationships

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Understanding the Pregnancy Journey for Women with Type 1 Diabetes Online Module
  • Thought Leadership Series Webinar
  • Living with Diabetes Webinar
Stigma and Diabetes Webinar

Communication

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]:

  • Pathophysiology and Diabetes Self-Management Education Principles

Speight et al., … Johnson G. (2021). Our language matters: Improving communication with and about people with diabetes. A position statement by Diabetes Australia, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 173, 108655. 

Counselling

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Quality Use of Medicines

Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) ~ Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Algorithm and Case Studies

ADS ~ Living Evidence Guidelines in Diabetes

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]:

Diabetes technology

ADS ~ Living Evidence Guidelines in Diabetes

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Care coordination

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Natural Disaster Management & Planning Online Module
  • National Diabetes Services Scheme, Insulin Pump Consumables and CGM Online Module

ADEA Diabetes Referral Pathways for type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes, children with type 1 and 2 diabetes and diabetes technology

Quality

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Implementation of Nursing Education Framework Webinar
  • Mentor Online Module

National Association of Diabetes Centres (NADC) ~ FootForward for diabetes – High Risk Foot Services Standards

NADC ~ FootForward for diabetes – High Risk Foot Services Accreditation

NADC ~ Diabetes Services Standards and Accreditation Program

Practice Level 7

Expected minimal clinical competence in diabetes - Master
Practice Level 7

Roles
  • Nurse Practitioner PT (Diabetes)

The health professional endorsed as a Nurse Practitioner PT holds a Master’s degree in a relevant field with subjects covering comprehensive clinical assessment and decision-making, pharmacology and therapeutics. The health professional is registered and qualified to prescribe medicines and functions as an autonomous practitioner. They are preferably a CDE and recognised nationally as a leader in the field.

Each capability in Practice Level 7 has a lists of capability components measured by performance cues (listed in printable PDF version). The health professional is expected to meet capability components from the previous practice levels. Health professionals within Practice Level 7 will demonstrate at minimum clinical competence in diabetes care at a master level. To meet the capabilities, it is essential that the health professional work within all the following: their professional scope of practice, regulatory frameworks and their insurance coverage.

Exemplify clinical assessment capacities

When providing care in partnership with people living with or at risk of diabetes, the nurse practitioner will:

  • Adeptly perform comprehensive assessments in complex diabetes cases.
  • Demonstrate a high level of clinical proficiency in complex situations.

Shape diabetes self-management education, support and care

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:
  • Display an advanced expert understanding of the implication of all diabetes type.
  • Recognise the complexity of clinical care and responds to high-risk diabetes needs.
  • Educate and support others to enable their active participation in care.
  • Demonstrate advanced clinical leadership and management skills.
  • Advocate for, participates in, or leads systems that support safe care, partnerships and professional growth.
  • Integrate and advocate for specialised knowledge to support diabetes care in all vulnerable groups.

Build therapeutic relationships
The diabetes nurse practitioner will:
  • Promote guidelines and policy to support therapeutic relationships.

Communicate with influence and leadership

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:

  • Demonstrate excellent communication skills when working with people living with diabetes.
  • Influence and negotiates persuasively.
  • Inspire and lead with purpose.

Exemplify counselling to achieve agreed outcomes

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:

  • Seamlessly apply shared decision-making approach to management choice.
  • Identifies and diagnoses depression and diabetes-related distress in people living with diabetes.
  • Leads endeavours to service delivery to reduce the psychosocial impact of diabetes in people living with diabetes.

Exemplify quality use of medicines

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:

  • Demonstrate an adept understanding of the quality use of medicines principles.
  • Proficiently use diabetes and metabolic medicines safely and effectively.
  • Optimise medicine therapy and minimise drug-related problems.
  • Monitor the impact of polypharmacy.

Exemplify quality use of diabetes technology

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:

  • Be adept at interpreting ambulatory glucose profiles and differing Continuous or Flash Glucose Monitoring and pump reports to optimise diabetes care.
  • Apply comprehensive advanced skills to manage a person living with diabetes using insulin pump therapy.

Lead care coordination

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:

  • Mentor in care coordination, contribute to planning and policy.
  • Exemplify care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Cultivates quality through leadership and research

The diabetes nurse practitioner will:

  • Apply research proficiently into advanced practice.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning.
  • Lead research and drive innovation.

You can download the full Practice Level 7 document here.

Resources

Those available for previous Practice Levels may also be helpful

Assessment

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) ~ Learning Management System [ACNP member only]

COVID 19 and Aged Care

Diabetes education

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Therapeutic relationships

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Communication

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

Counselling

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]:

Quality Use of Medicines

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]: 

  • Medication for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Webinar
  • Medication and Evidence in Diabetes Webinar

Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) ~ Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Algorithm and Case Studies

ADS ~ Living Evidence Guidelines in Diabetes

National Prescribing Service ~ Medicine Wise

Quality Use of Medicines and Medicines Safety

ACNP  Learning Management System [ACNP member only]: 

  • Clinical Pharmacokinetics
  • Clinical Pharmacodynamics
  • Prescribing and Pharmacology – Key Issues and Antimicrobials
  • Prescribing and Pharmacology – What’s new and Pain Management

Prescribing and Pharmacology – Mental Health, Polypharmacy and Deprescribing

Diabetes technology

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]

Care coordination

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]

ADEA Diabetes Referral Pathways for type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes, children with type 1 and 2 diabetes and diabetes technology

Quality

ADEA Learning Management System [ADEA member ~ some available as guest]

Research Hub – Research Projects