Diabetes virtual emergency service wins IPAA Victoria Leadership Awards

(L-R) Tracey Slatter presenting award to Professor Elif Ekinci, Sarah Lindsay, Dr Ben Nash, Renza Scibilia, Glen Noonan, Ziad Nehme, Peter Chalikias and Holly Piontek Walker. Image Credit: Transcend Media

A team led by University of Melbourne Professor and Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) Director, Elif Ekinci, has received both the People’s Choice Award and Designing Services for People Award at the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Victoria 2025 Leadership Awards for creating a specialised virtual emergency department service catering for people living with diabetes.

The service provides free consultations for individuals with diabetes facing non life-threatening complications, irrespective of their location.

Professor Ekinci said she was thrilled the award recognised the team’s collaborative effort. “Thanks to their passion, dedication and hard work, this pioneering model is now being evaluated as the blueprint for diabetes emergency care.”

Since its launch in July 2024, the VVED Diabetes Service has supported over 860 Victorians in its first six months and achieved an 82.5% diversion rate. This has led to fewer complications and a decrease in hospital emergency department visits.

The VVED Diabetes Service is delivered in partnership between ACADI, Northern Health, Ambulance Victoria, Diabetes Victoria, Abbott and the Royal Flying Doctors Service, demonstrating a commitment to improving health outcomes for individuals living with diabetes.