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To mark National Diabetes Week, the Australian Government is announcing a new three-year $140 million agreement with Diabetes Australia to continue delivering the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
Diabetes directly affects approximately 5 per cent of Australia’s population. Sadly, 80 per cent of people report feeling shame or blame because they have the disease.
This year’s National Diabetes Week – from 11 to 17 July – seeks to address this, by changing the conversation and reducing diabetes-related stigma.
Diabetes Australia is spearheading the campaign, which asks people “Would you mind?” if you were made to feel ashamed because of a health condition.
The NDSS helps people understand and self-manage their life with diabetes. It also gives them access to services, support, and subsidised diabetes products like blood glucose testing strips, insulin syringes, insulin pump consumables, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products.
The NDSS currently supports nearly 1.4 million Australians with diabetes. It delivered more than 5.7 million diabetes products in 2019–20, at a cost of more than $188 million.
In addition to the NDSS, the Government subsidises essential medicines, like insulin, under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). In 2019–20, PBS expenditure on medicines for diabetes was over $632 million.
Since 2017, the scheme has also provided fully subsidised CGM products to eligible people. The Government has expanded the eligibility criteria to allow more people to benefit, and now provides fully subsidised CGM products to:

• children and young people, under 21 years of age, with type 1 diabetes
• children and young people with conditions very similar to type 1 diabetes, such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and neonatal diabetes, who require insulin
• women with type 1 diabetes who are planning for pregnancy, pregnant or immediately post-pregnancy
• people with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older who have concessional status.

These changes mean more than 58,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes are eligible to access CGM products, with funding of more than $300 million over four years.
The new agreement with Diabetes Australia also secures the future of successful programs which are making a real difference for people with diabetes, including:

• KeepSight, a program to help prevent diabetes-related blindness by making it easier for people with diabetes to get their eyes checked
• Diabetes in Schools, which provides nationally consistent information and training for parents and families, principals, school staff and health professionals, so students with type 1 diabetes can be supported to manage their condition at school, and
• FootForward, a new program to help people with diabetes understand the importance of getting their feet checked, to avoid foot problems that can lead to amputation.

The Government’s commitment to supporting Australians with diabetes extends well beyond the NDSS.
We recognise the importance of clinical research and how it provides an important opportunity to identify better ways to prevent, treat and manage diabetes.
Since 2010, the National Health and Medical Research Council has provided $626 million for diabetes research. Since its inception, the Medical Research Future Fund has invested $78 million in diabetes research. This includes $25 million to JDRF Australia (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) for the Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network.
Work is also under way on an updated Australian National Diabetes Strategy to outline the national response to diabetes and better coordinate and target existing resources across all levels of government. The strategy will span 2021–2030 and is expected later this year.

Monash University has developed Australia’s first training course accredited by multiple professional bodies to help health professionals and frontline workers better recognise and respond to victims of sexual violence.
Over the next 18 months the training will be delivered to hundreds of health professionals including GPs and nurses in rural and remote areas who work regularly with patients at higher risk of experiencing sexual violence.
Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston visited Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine which received $4.5 million from the Morrison Government to develop and implement the training across Australia in partnership with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.
“It is vital that when someone discloses an experience of sexual violence their disclosure is handled with care and this training arms healthcare professionals with that expertise,” Minister Ruston said.
“Course participants will learn about all forms of sexual violence and how to identify risk factors and respond to disclosures in culturally sensitive and appropriate ways, including developing an understanding of referral pathways, protective support services and justice options.
“Importantly the training covers how to identify medical presentations and diagnoses that may be indicators of sexual violence so we can intervene sooner and ensure victims get the support they need immediately.”
Federal Member for Higgins Katie Allen said the new training package has clearly met demand with 77 expressions of interest received from health professionals for the first unit on offer which was already at capacity with 25 people enrolled.
“What sets this training a part is that each six-hour unit will be delivered over a six-week period and will accrue Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points towards a health practitioner’s annual professional development registration requirement,” Dr Allen said.
“This initiative is a significant step in changing the dial with how medical practitioners can identify and better support women traumatised by violence.”
Future course participants will also include social workers, youth workers, Indigenous frontline workers, teachers, police and corrections staff, psychologists, counsellors, disability workers, legal professionals, aged care workers, not-for-profit support organisation staff, community and faith leaders, and human resources professionals.
The curriculum lead for this project, Associate Professor David Wells, Senior Education Coordinator for Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine, said sexual violence was pervasive, destructive and criminal behaviour and impacts the lives of thousands of Australians every year.
“A large amount of my professional life has been spent assisting victims in the days and weeks after they have experienced such an assault, and for many victims, life never returns to normal,” Associate Professor Wells said.
“The physical, emotional and social impacts can be brutal and crippling, and the damage is not confined to the victim. There can be long term negative impacts to the next generation, to communities, and wider society.
“While there has been a lot of work done on improving frontline workers’ understanding of domestic and family violence, there is limited awareness of how to recognise and respond to disclosures of sexual violence in ways that support recovery.
“This program is a key element in early intervention and improving frontline workers’ ability to provide trauma-informed care and planning to support long term recovery.”
The first unit of face-to-face training will be delivered via Zoom on 16 August 2021 and has been accredited by multiple professional bodies including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the College of Emergency Medicine and the College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Each module will be supported with practical guidelines and assessment tools, and units two and three are expected to be delivered later this year.

The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
National Cabinet discussed the outbreak in Greater Sydney and the additional measures introduced by the New South Wales Government to stop the spread of the virus. All leaders expressed their full support for NSW to get on top of the outbreak. National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth’s extension of the COVID-19 Disaster Payments for Greater Sydney.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 30,955 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 21.7 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 727,763 tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 185.4 million cases and sadly over 4 million deaths, with 514,654 new cases and 9,457 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world. National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth PPE and vaccine support for the Pacific and Indonesia to address growing outbreaks.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out continues to expand. As of yesterday, 8,871,572 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in Australia, including 164,773 doses in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, 901,419 vaccines have been administered in Australia.
To date, more than 32.2 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 55 per cent of over 50 year olds and over 72 per cent of over 70 year olds. More than 10 per cent of Australians 16 years of age are fully vaccinated including more than 20 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19 in a number of locations and of both the Alpha and Delta variants.
Professor Brendan Murphy noted that Australia has built significant health system capacity since the beginning of the pandemic with over 2,000 ventilator capacity and 7,500 ICU bed capacity.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided a detailed briefing on the vaccination program.
National Cabinet welcomed the increased Pfizer supplies and detailed supply plans provided to states and territories. Australia will bring forward Pfizer doses to around 1 million per week from 19 July, this is an increase from an average of 300,000 to 350-000 per week in May and June. Pfizer supplies will increase from 2.8 million doses for July to 4.5 million doses for August 2021. This will mean increased access for Australians through state and territory vaccination clinics, Commonwealth vaccination clinics and 1,300 primary care vaccination sites.
All leaders reiterated the importance of Australians, especially those in vulnerable groups, to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 16 July 2021.
National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response
The Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Phil Gaetjens, provided an update on the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce report and the Doherty modelling for the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response. To take into account economic and other perspectives, Secretary Gaetjens’ work is being coordinated with Commonwealth, state and territory Treasuries, Health Departments and First Secretaries Departments.
Aged Care Workers
All state and territory leaders, with the exception of Victoria, agreed to implement state public health orders or similar state and territory instruments to mandate vaccination of aged care workers by mid-September 2021, with limited exceptions. This is consistent with the approach taken for mandating influenza vaccinations for aged care workers.
In Victoria, an independent decision on mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for aged care workers rests with the Chief Health Officer in Victoria.
National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth’s tender for aged care remains open for facilities to provide on-site vaccinations and this is expected to provide more than 25,000 workers, with a further process underway to support localised hubs in partnership with the aged care sector.
Mandatory Vaccinations for Disability Workers
National Cabinet agreed to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s (AHPPC) advice encouraging residential disability support workers to have their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, and in August 2021, consider mandating vaccination for disability workers by 31 October 2021.
The National Cabinet:

• strongly encourages all disability support workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect their own health and the health of the people for whom they are caring
• notes the AHPPC will consider the evidence for mandatory vaccination for disability support workers in August 2021 following redoubled efforts to encourage uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including by giving disability support workers priority for appointments and improving communications to the sector, and taking into account an updated assessment by AHPPC of COVID-19 risk in a range of disability residential settings
• notes in August 2021 the AHPPC will consider making it mandatory for disability support workers who support NDIS participants in high risk disability residential settings, to have had at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 31 October 2021.

Vaccination arrangements for mobile workforces
National Cabinet agreed to the AHPPC advice strongly encouraging vaccination in sectors with high mobility, such as aviation, resources and freight. The Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, Lieutenant General John Frewen DSC AM, continues to discuss the vaccination rollout with business groups and will continue to engage with the sectors to maximise uptake.
International passengers
National Cabinet noted progress to implement decisions taken at its last meeting regarding international passenger arrivals.
The Commonwealth has informed airlines that international air passenger arrival caps will be temporarily halved by 14 July 2021. The following cap arrangements will commence by 12.01am Wednesday 14 July and end by 11.59pm Tuesday 31 August 2021, subject to review by the National Cabinet before the end of August:

• New South Wales – 1,505 per week (215 per day);
• Queensland – 650 per week (including surge capacity);
• Victoria – 500 per week;
• South Australia – 265 per week; and
• Western Australian – 265 per week.

The Commonwealth has increased the number of facilitated commercial flights (FCFs) into Darwin for quarantine at the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs. To support returning Australians to access flights, 29 FCFs are being arranged for July and August.
The Commonwealth is closely monitoring the impact of the temporary cap reductions and will provide additional support as necessary through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to ensure the maintenance of essential freight lines.
National Cabinet agreed that COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended and should be available for all outbound travellers under the Australian Vaccination Strategy.
Quarantine arrangements for returned travellers
National Cabinet noted the AHPPC paper on quarantine arrangements for vaccinated returned travellers (AHPPC Statement for Public Health Management of Persons Fully Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2) and agreed to commence National Cabinet pilots of home quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers who had been vaccinated in Australia, with an Australian approved vaccination, arriving from low and medium risk countries..
South Australia has committed to commence the first trial.
To enable these trials the Commonwealth will update the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) from 16 July 2021 to include information on inbound arrivals vaccination status. This will include date, country, brand and dose of COVID-19 vaccination. This ATD information will be provided to states and territories through the National Incident Centre from 16 July 2021 as per existing protocols, supporting decisions on pilot quarantine arrangements by states and territories.
Data Sharing Intergovernmental Agreement
National Cabinet today agreed and signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Data Sharing (IGA), developed by Data and Digital Ministers. The IGA gives effect to National Cabinet’s commitment to share data across jurisdictions as a default position, where it can be done safely, securely and lawfully. The work program will be finalised by Data and Digital Ministers in consultation with portfolio ministers.

The establishment today of the Royal Commission into defence and veteran suicide is welcome news.
Veterans, their families and Labor have been calling for this since 2019.
Since the announcement of the Royal Commission on 19 April 2021, we have called for the Morrison Government to come up with broad and flexible Terms of Reference (ToR), and to ensure the voices of veterans and families are heard.
It is encouraging that the investigation will enquire into systemic issues related to defence and veteran suicides, including the possible contribution of pre-service, transition, separation and post-service issues.
It is concerning, however, that the Government wants to retain its flawed National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention alongside the Royal Commission while the National Commissioner legislation is stalled in the Senate.
Labor, along with many in the veteran community, has said we are open to a permanent body to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission, but only if this is a recommendation.
Further, Labor had called for the Government to appoint Commissioners who are of the right standing and independent from the Australian Defence Force, such as a current or former senior judge, in order to ensure trust and confidence in this process.
We broadly welcome the appointment of former NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas as lead commissioner and former Queensland Supreme Court Judge James Douglas QC and mental health expert Dr Peggy Brown AO as the other two commissioners.
It is disappointing, however, the Government has not consulted Labor on the ToR or the appointment of commissioners, and has failed to appoint any of the eminent individuals recommended by an expert advisory group convened by veteran advocate Julie-Ann Finney.
It is important that this Royal Commission now be a bipartisan issue.