A Community Diabetes Educator Course for the Unemployed in South Auckland, New Zealand

PURPOSE This paper describes an education program that targeted long-term unemployed people from the community and trained them to work as diabetes educators in their own communities in an attempt to address issues of cultural appropriateness. METHODS Government funding was obtained to conduct two 22-week training courses for people who had been selected by their communities. These courses built on participants' existing cultural skills and provided appropriate diabetes training. RESULTS The results indicate that the courses were successful both in creating a cadre of culturally acceptable diabetes educators and providing employment for course participants. CONCLUSIONS Previously unemployed lay people are able to provide diabetes education in the primary prevention and group settings. Such individuals are able to incorporate extensive cultural skills in their work.