The Morrison Government will invest $6 million to better support children living with diabetes, with the launch of a new program across Australian schools.
The Type 1 Diabetes Management in Schools program will support around 6,000 children living with the condition by providing a training and education program for teachers on the management of children with type 1 diabetes.
It will give parents peace of mind that their children with type 1 diabetes are better supported in managing their condition while at school.
Teachers and school staff will be trained in insulin administration, recognition of hypoglycaemia and normalising diabetes management in schools.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease attacking a person’s ability to produce insulin and it is vitally important that children and young people with the disease are monitored throughout the day.
In 2015, more than 6,000 children aged 0–14 years had type 1 diabetes.
The program will be designed and delivered by Diabetes Australia, through the National Diabetes Services Scheme, supported by an alliance of the key national health professional and consumer diabetes organisations.
The organisations are the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group, Diabetes Australia, the Australian Diabetes Society and JDRF Australia.
These groups will consult with other key stakeholders on the final design and implementation of the program.
This builds on the Coalition Government’s $54 million initiative for free continuous glucose monitoring devices.
The National Diabetes Services Scheme is Commonwealth funded initiative that supports timely, reliable and affordable access to products and services that help people with diabetes effectively self-manage their condition.
The Type 1 Diabetes Management in Schools program supports one of the Australian National Diabetes Strategy goals to promote awareness of type 1 diabetes symptoms and management in schools, other educational settings, workplaces and the community more broadly.
This program complements the Asthma in Schools program announced by the Government in January.
It is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring children with chronic conditions are able to receive appropriate care if they need it at school.