Sangeeta Prakash

I am originally from Fiji Islands, but I moved to Australia in 2004. I completed my nursing studies in 2014. After graduating, I began working in Medical Practice, as I was interested in providing nursing care in the General Practice environment. I believe that the first point of contact for the public to any healthcare provider is in the general practice.

For the last five years now, I have been working as a registered nurse in General Practice. I have come across many different patients. At the moment, I am a Practise Nurse Manager and I work as a registered nurse and also lead team of six nurses within two medical centres.

I decided to study the Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education and Management because, as a registered nurse, I encounter lots of patients with multiple types of health conditions. In particular, I once encountered a patient who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. My first question to the patient was ‘What do you know about diabetes?’ She did not know anything about diabetes, as there was no history of it in her family. Furthermore, the general practitioner who had diagnosed her had not adequately educated her about the condition.

I realised on that day how important it is for individuals to be educated about diabetes – from risk factors and complications to management process. Meeting that patient prompted me to do this course, so that I can share my knowledge with my patients.

I am passionate about providing quality nursing care to people who are sick in the community, who need our help and assistance. I also enjoy providing education to people in the community regarding their health and the services available to them. Our community is very multicultural – there are many people from different ethnic backgrounds who lack knowledge regarding communicable diseases, its risk factors and complications. Often, they are also unaware of the healthcare services available to them.

I chose to study at UTS because it is the number #1 young university in Australia, and is globally ranked amongst the top 150 universities. Students here graduate with high marks and enter into full time employment. Teachers are very knowledgeable. Plus, the location makes it easy for me to travel to and from the university!

This course is rewarding because it is providing me with the skills and knowledge to become a Diabetes Educator, which is a fantastic opportunity to educate and share my knowledge with diabetes patients I encounter at work. Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in the world – there are people in our community who desperately need the assistance of diabetes educators to help them manage their condition and to bring their life back on track.

Through my studies, I feel more confident that I can provide the best level of care to patients. My understanding of this chronic condition has developed, and my way of thinking has also matured. Furthermore, I’ve had the chance to upgrade my knowledge sharing and teaching skills. 

This certificate has also given me the opportunity to work with a team of very talented health professionals in the Western Sydney area. I was offered the role of Practice Nurse Manager at my current workplace five months ago. Since then, I have educated many diabetes patients and have also secured a place as a Diabetes Educator in the organisation for next year. Studying this course has given me the confidence to meet patients and effectively help them.

For the future, I plan to work as a Diabetes Educator for a few years and try to help as many people as I can. I would also like to study diabetes more, so that I can stay up-to-date with the latest research regarding this condition, its prevalence and potential management options.

If you are considering doing this course: do not hesitate! People need to learn how to manage their chronic condition, which makes the role of diabetes educators vital. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing. By providing quality education to communities about the risks of the condition and the management, we can reduce the numbers of people suffering with this condition. 

Find out more about the Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education and Management at UTS