All about us at the Type 1 Foundation

At The Type 1 Foundation, we are filling the gap with the importance of connection and support. The Type1 Foundation was founded in 2015 by Ange and Leif McCaughley after their eldest daughter Lila was diagnosed with Type1 Diabetes. They realised there was no support for the “right here right now”.

We are a not-for-profit charity. Our aim is to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes through education in schools, medical practices and the wider community. We provide support and connect families living with this chronic disease through our large scale events and various programs.

Our Mission

Our Mission at the Type1 Foundation is to support, connect and advocate all families living with Type 1 Diabetes. We are dedicated to ensuring that all our families receive the right support and a multitude of avenues to connect with one another. 

Our Vision

To create a community that understands the impact type 1 diabetes has on daily life;

and a world that understands the impact of type1 diabetes on the individuals and their families, and knows the symptoms to avoid DKA at diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Our Values

Compassion & Care

Transparency

Integrity

Support

The Type 1 Foundation acknowledges the profound impact the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes has on a person and their family/carers. Born from personal experience, the Foundation prides itself on a unique understanding of the support required at diagnosis and in everyday life, as well as the value of connecting to others and raising awareness of the condition in the community.

We take a comprehensive approach to Type 1 Diabetes, acknowledging the complexity and impact on a person’s physical, emotional and mental health as well as the wellbeing of their carers/family support network. The demands of T1D result in individuals more likely to experience depression, anxiety, mental health disorders, sleep deprivation, eating disorders and social isolation.

Our Foundation supports people right from diagnosis with care packs delivered immediately after diagnosis. Newly Diagnosed families have access to a range of online support sessions as well as in-person events which provide support and information in a safe and understanding space.

Community connection plays a vital role in the well-being of individuals with Type 1 Diabetes. That is why we provide a multitude of events to support its community including carer dinners, camps, large scale family events, kids activity days and online information/social events. Our large scale family events attract between 500-800 people, selling out in minutes and hundreds of people on wait lists.

In 2023, the Type 1 Foundation and the Type 1 Voice released a survey to capture a snapshot of life with Type 1 Diabetes in Australia. The results yielded valuable insights into the lives of people who live with Type 1 Diabetes, their preferences and experiences, further guiding the efforts of the Type 1 Foundation to enhance the resources they offer their community.

“The Foundation is not research based

or even looking for a cure,

it is acknowledging and supporting the ‘human element’

of a diagnosis of this life long disease.

A cure is the ultimate, but living with it daily is the reality.

The support is around the concept of ‘right here, right now’,

in the moment of diagnosis

and what is needed for that family to survive and most of all thrive.”

CEO - Ange McCaughley