Dr Ashley Ng

Last week we celebrated a research centre very close to my heart – the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD). Fifteen years ago, around the time of my diagnosis, this amazing partnership between Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University came to life and I have been a fan since day one.

One of the first events they held which I attended was called Generation T2 – specifically for young adults with type 2 diabetes. I remember sitting there captivated about all this research on emotional wellbeing, diabetes burnout and distress and feeling relieved. Everything they had talked about validated the roller coaster of emotions, worries and fears I had gone through.

As I progressed with my studies, it became a dream of mine to some postgrad study or work with them. Their work assured me that combining nutrition and psychology made sense to understand health behaviours. They inspired me to pursue the research area I was interested in, especially in the area of peer support.

While I never ended up doing my postgrad with the ACBRD, I have now collaborated with them on several projects, and gotten to know the team pretty well. Now as I am establishing my research career, I have been so lucky to receive mentorship from Jane and Liz as I stumble my way through things. I remember in particular after one chat with Jane, I came away feeling like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders when she reminded me that it’s okay to take things at my own pace and that I need to consider opportunities that would fit my family life as well.

Fifteen years down this rabbit hole as a researcher and someone living with diabetes, I have a renewed appreciation for the work that they do. Not just within academia but especially how they translate research and impact into the community (see the Diabetes Language Position Statement and End Diabetes Stigma Global Summit). Particularly on an aspect of diabetes that was once brushed away as “all in your head”, they have managed to validate and highlight the invisible load that people with diabetes carry every day. While they excel at the research, the tremendous of background work that goes on to keep the centre up and running isn’t something people realise as well.

A huge congratulations and birthday wishes to the ACBRD. It’s been an honour being by your side all this time and I’m looking forward to our next 15 years together.