Grace Ward
Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, 2014
Grace Ward, a Kamilaroi-Yuwaalaraay woman, is a pioneering force in Indigenous healthcare and diabetes education. As the first Aboriginal Health Practitioner to graduate the the UTS Diabetes Education and Management course, Grace broke new ground—not only for herself but for generations of Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) to follow.
Grace’s impact is both systemic and deeply personal. Since 2022, she has volunteered with the UTS Diabetes Education program, mentoring students, moderating a national peer-support group, and championing Indigenous participation. Under her guidance, the number of Indigenous Credentialled Diabetes Educators has grown by 200%, and the UTS course has become the most sought-after program for Indigenous health professionals across Australia.
My name is Grace Ward and I graduated in 2014 with a graduate certificate in diabetes education and management.
Winning the award means a lot to me as I left school when I was 15. And to think that one day I would be here receiving such an award was a long way off the radar back in those days. It is a sense of pride of what I've achieved.
The one key lesson I've learned was that if you marry the academic knowledge and skills with cultural knowledge, you can achieve so many things that would be of benefit to First Nations people.
My experience with UTS helped shape the way I look at the world by believing that cultural knowledge can make the world a better place. To my fellow UTS alumni, we hold a responsibility. We have to encourage indigenous students to walk with a sense of pride and make the world a better place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Her influence was pivotal in the course’s 2023 reaccreditation, where she helped embed culturally responsive practices and elevate the Indigenous Graduate Attribute to a faculty-wide exemplar. Grace also secured scholarships for Indigenous students, removing financial barriers and empowering future leaders in diabetes care.
Before Grace, Aboriginal Health Practitioners were not eligible to become Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs). She fought to change this, leading to a landmark policy change in 2024, enabling AHPs to CDEs, a move that has significantly increased Indigenous representation in this critical field.
Beyond her formal roles, Grace is a community builder. She has cultivated a national network of Indigenous diabetes educators, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and cultural pride. Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Faculty of Health’s Causal Academic of the Year and the Commitment to Indigenous Health Award from Indigenous Allied Health Australia.
Even today, Grace continues to lead with humility, wisdom, and unwavering commitment. Her legacy is one of healing, empowerment, and transformation—proof that one woman’s determination can reshape systems and inspire a nation. Through her tireless efforts, Grace has not only elevated the UTS Diabetes Education program but also created a lasting impact on Indigenous health and education across Australia.
UTS gave me the opportunity to be the first Aboriginal Health Practitioner graduate of the Diabetes Education course. That experience didn’t just change my life—it helped me change the system for others.