The Lotterywest grant helping young West Aussies with diabetes 

We’d all love to win the lottery, but knowing that playing Lotterywest games has a direct impact on different communities across our state feels like a win in itself.

Whenever you play a Lotterywest game – you’re contributing to good things all around WA to the sum of $373 million in the last financial year alone!

We have been shining a light on where some of that money has gone so far in our Dream State series, and this time we’re checking in with Diabetes WA. Currently in Western Australia, there are around 14,000 people living with Type 1 diabetes and Diabetes WA does plenty of important work to help those people.

Lotterywest has given $50,348 to Diabetes WA which has gone directly towards camps to assist children with Type 1 diabetes.

The aim of the camps is to build confidence and social connections which is done through team building activities to develop trust, resilience, and independence.

But perhaps most importantly, the camps help young people with their approach to managing diabetes, which for Bridget, a parent of a camp attendee, was incredible: “The camp really helped my daughter to have a better approach to managing her diabetes,” she explains, “Because meeting other children she didn’t feel like she had to hide it so really helped her headspace in a lot of ways.”

All the camps are delivered by mentors, health professionals and social workers to improve knowledge and self-care skills. Often the camps are the first time these kids have been away from their parents, and as such it gives them an opportunity to be independent and confident, whilst in a supportive environment.

“Kids Camp is a safe environment where kids who live with diabetes can come together with their peers, learn about managing their diabetes, build resilience and have a great time,” says Health Services Manager at Diabetes WA, Nicola Clerk.

“Diabetes WA and Lotterywest have had a long, collaborative relationship and Lotterywest has been instrumental in helping us get some really exciting programs happening, for example, our Kids Camp.”

You can learn more about Diabetes WA here, and for more about how playing lotto is helping make good things happen in the WA community, head to the Lotterywest Dream State Hub.

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This article is sponsored by Lotterywest and very happily endorsed by us. Please see our Editorial Policy for more info.