Historical publications
Highlights of Government Support for Diabetes 1999
This report is designed to inform non-government organisations, service providers and health professionals of the broad range of diabetes initiatives funded by Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.
The report aims to inform those in service planning and provider roles of the types of activities being funded by Commonwealth and State/Territory governments.
>> Forward
>> Introduction
>> What is diabetes?
>> National focus
>> Management of specific complications
>> Groups with special needs
>> The way forward
>> Contacts
Foreword
Members of the Commonwealth State Diabetes Forum are pleased to present this document highlighting some of the key activities being undertaken by governments to address diabetes.In 1996, Dr Michael Wooldridge, Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged Care, announced that diabetes was to be a National Health Priority Area.
Since then, the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have been working together to identify ways to prevent and manage the disease. The developing partnership between these levels of government is evident in the establishment of the Commonwealth State Diabetes Forum with participation by all jurisdictions. To date, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have provided input to two national reports on diabetes - the National Diabetes Strategy and Implementation Plan report released in 1998 and the National Health Priority Areas Report on Diabetes Mellitus presented to Health Ministers in July 1999 and are currently developing a National Diabetes Strategy based on these two reports.
Through the development of the reports, it became clear that a wide range of innovative, evidence-based activity was being undertaken in each jurisdiction across the continuum of care but with little coordinated dissemination of information. This publication is one means of redressing this situation.
The report aims to inform those in service planning and provider roles about the types of innovative activities being funded by Commonwealth and State/Territory governments. Some of these activities are conducted through diabetes interest groups including Diabetes Australia, professional associations and universities. The report highlights key activities rather than overviewing all diabetes activities funded by government.
A contact name and address (phone and/or e-mail) is provided for each activity described to give readers easy access to more information on each program (for example, how to establish the program, process information on issues such as consulting with stakeholders and barriers to implementation, evaluation methodologies and outcomes of the program achieved to date). Through providing contact details, Forum members hope to enhance the growing networking between planners and providers of diabetes prevention and management services.
It is hoped that this National Action on Diabetes document will promote the most effective interventions in diabetes prevention and care, expanding the types of activities being undertaken by jurisdictions and enhancing the coordination of these activities.
Jenny Thomas
Chair
Commonwealth State Diabetes Forum
This publication was funded under a grant from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
COPYRIGHT © Commonwealth of Australia 1999
This document is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires the written permission of the Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601.
Published by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care 1999
Acknowledgements
Advice on government activity in diabetes from those listed below is gratefully acknowledged.
Commonwealth State Diabetes Forum members:
Dr Isabella Smith (NSW Department of Health)Martin Turnbull (Victorian Department of Human Services)
Michael Hill (Queensland Health)
Dr Michael d'Emden (Queensland Health)
Dr Dorothy Jones (Health Dept of WA)
Dr Phil Popplewell (SA Health Commission)
Marguerite Tohl (SA Health Commission)
Myree Rawsthorne (ACT Department of Health and Community Care)
Dr Tarun Weeramanthri (Territory Health Services)
Liz Bingham (Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania)
Secretariat:
Brian Conway (Director, Health Priorities Management, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care)Mick O'Hara (Health Priorities Management, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care)
Sandra Vlacci (Health Priorities Management, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care)
Report coordinator:
Ellen Hawes (Queensland Health)The Commonwealth State Diabetes Forum gratefully acknowledges the advice and input of everybody who helped in the daunting task of assembling the material necessary for this report.
