Aruni Ratnayake

Aruni Ratnayake is the Diabetes Prevention Officer at Western Sydney Diabetes. Her role in primary prevention was to form a western Sydney cluster of primary schools implementing Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program for kids to learn food habits for life. Aruni also works with WentWest and the Heart Foundation to commence walking groups at GP practices and community.

Starting her medical career in Sri Lanka, her interest of disease prevention grew while working in intensive care. She continued that passion working with Arthritis NSW & Cancer Council NSW. She is very keen about educating the community about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, especially to the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, Indian subcontinent, Filipino and Chinese communities, where diabetes is more prevalent.

Aruni recently received the Roche Best New Presenter Award at the Australasian Diabetes Congress 2022 for her presentation at the ADEA Best of the Best Orals prize session.

Her presentation was called "Community led culture and place-based diabetes programs in western Sydney: Preventing and managing diabetes through grassroots engagement".