Diabetes Projects Trust has been in operation since the early 1990's. In it's early days it was based at Middlemore hospital where it had been set up with a primary focus on conducting research. In 2000 the organisation moved to Otara to share premises (and many discussions over the lunch table) with the team from the Whitiora diabetes service. The organisation continued to adapt until it reached it's current health promotion focus, designing and delivering specialised diabetes/complication prevention services, while still having an interest in research at a community level. In 2008, Diabetes Projects Trust took over the unit at 2/100 Alexander Crescent entirely when the Whitiora team moved out, however close relationships are still maintained today.
A lot changes inside an organisation and in the environment it operates in over such a long period of time. As a charitable trust, governance of our organisation is by a Board of Trustees or BOT (details here). They are responsible for setting direction and ensuring the business is effective and viable. In the case of Diabetes Projects Trust, this was through providing direction to the current manager. By the time 2018 came round, the original documentation underpinning how the organisation worked and what it was meant to achieve...was understandably looking rather tired. A look at this original document reveals it was signed in 1993 by Professor Sir John Scott, David Simmons, Arnold Mouw, Betty Hunapo, and Christina Tapu...some of these will be very familiar names to many who worked in health in South Auckland in those days.
The Board of Trustees in late 2018, made up of John Baker (Chair), Tom Robinson (Deputy Chair), Gerhard Sundborn, and Deirdre Mellamphy, made the decision to undertake a significant process to review and update the Trust deed. This was particularly to make sure the document was fit for purpose and that it would support the organisation to carry on it's work into the future in a manner that reduces inequities and incorporating the spirit of Te Tiriti O Waitangi. After much discussion and consultation, came a new name and refreshed vision and aims.
Thus we proudly introduce Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa.
The rebranding process is expected to continue as some aspects. Adaptation and replacement of existing materials, resources, and products will require ongoing consultation and time. There are also progress to be made with a new whakataukī and translation of the new name into Te Reo.
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