Maria Amelia Marcos is a Credentialled Diabetes Educator CDE /Clinical Nurse CN for Community Nursing Services in Southport Gold Coast. Her academic history includes a Bachelor of Nursing at Griffith University, Graduate Diploma in Primary Health Care from Western Sydney University and a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Management and Education. She also has a Certificate of Immunisation. Maria has previous experience as a CDE working with a Spanish speaking community and refugees at Inala Primary Care, Brisbane. Previously Maria was responsible for coordinating, planning and implementing chronic disease groups and ‘lighten up’ programs. She has early experience in Emergency, Transition, in the Community Health Integrated Project (CHIP Nurse) as well as an immunisation nurse. Maria is passionate about the importance of diabetes care in the elderly and optimum diabetes care with an emphasis on continuity of care across services in the community. She is currently part of Bluecare professional best practice committee and Bluecare Diabetes working party which led to Bluecare introducing insulin pens with safety needles or safety sharps bins - consequently reducing needle stick injuries at Southport for the last 2 two years. Bluecare Community and Residential Care’s introduction of all relevant ADEA guidelines, McKellar Aged Care Guidelines and diabetes management at the end of life has led to enhanced practices within these facilities with other residential and community services within the organisation now following. After the Brisbane floods Maria initiated and created a diabetes disaster preparedness pamphlet for use when clients are admitted for Bluecare services with great feedback from clients and staff. Maria joined the NDSS Disaster Expert Reference Group with the purpose of assisting people with diabetes to be prepared, to act and recover well in the event of a disaster as well as assisting the CDE to be prepared, have a more defined and coordinated role as well as to inform their clients effectively about natural disasters.