Type 1 Diabetes Opinion Leaders Group HomePage

The Type 1 Diabetes Network is hosting a process to develop a statement of issues affecting Australians with Type 1 diabetes.

This web page will be evolving to support the process.

It currently contains:

Launch of the Statement
The Statement of Issues Affecting Australians with Type 1 Diabetes will be launched in a special session on the final day of the ADS-ADEA conference in Melbourne:

Friday 29th August, 2.30pm - 4pm

Correspondence with our Politicians

Letters introducing the Type 1 Diabetes Opinion Leaders Group have been sent to:

Federal Minister for Health & Ageing
State government Ministers for Health
Federal & State Opposition Spokespersons
Parliamentary Diabetes Support Group
Chair, National Health & Hospitals Reform Committee

15 June 2008

Excerpt of letter:

"Eight health professional bodies, six non-government organisations and three voluntary consumer groups are represented on the newly-formed Type 1 Diabetes Opinion Leaders Group, alongside 14 people with Type 1 Diabetes and four parents of children with diabetes.

The Type 1 Diabetes Network, a consumer-led health promotion charity, has convened the group to develop A Statement of Issues affecting Australians with Type 1 Diabetes, and stimulate discussion about solutions."

Read the full letter...

Read attachments to the letter:
Type 1 Diabetes Opinion Leaders Group Membership List
Type 1 Diabetes in Australia: A Review, 2008

Responses

From: Craig Ritchie, Acting Assistant Secretary, Chronic Disease Branch, Department of Health and Ageing, 4 July 2008

"I am delighted to learn of the development of The Type 1 Diabetes Opinion Leaders Group and appreciate the positive contribution this group will make in improving outcomes for Australians of all ages who live with type 1 diabetes.

The Government is concerned at the increasing incidence ... and particularly the difficulties encountered by people with type 1 diabetes in managing the condition....."

Read the full DOHA response... (PDF, 490KB)

Click here for additional responses to this correspondence

Key Documents

Proposal for a Type 1 Diabetes Issues Statement (PDF, 4 pgs, 183KB)
Outline of the proposed process for developing an Issues Statement: The Challenge, The Recommendation, The Role of an Issues Statement and the proposed Consultation and Collaboration process.

Type 1 Diabetes in Australia: A Review (PDF, 9 pgs, 233KB)
A literature review of Type 1 diabetes in Australia which forms the background to the Issues Statement Proposal, including examination of:

  1. Rising incidence and variable prevalence
  2. Mortality
  3. Hospital admissions
  4. Complications and comorbidities
  5. Other clinical outcomes
  6. Mental health
  7. Health and medical services
  8. Clinical practice guidelines
  9. Policy initiatives
  10. Consumer involvement and representation

See also Selection of further background reading

Opinion Leaders Group Membership

Invitations were issued to a wide range of organisations and individuals to contribute to this process, and an open call was made for consumer representatives to nominate.

The membership of the group has now been finalised, and consists of the following organisations and individuals.

Organisations with nominated representatives:

Representatives of other key groups and professions:

  • General practice (GP)
    - Dr Michelle Leadston
  • Endocrinology and medical research
    - A/Prof Alicia Jenkins, St Vincent's Hospital & the University of Melbourne
  • Tertiary hospital diabetes centre
    - Coral Shankley, Nurse practitioner (diabetes), Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW
  • Adolescent/Transition diabetes service
    - Jo Pennisi, Credentialled Diabetes Educator, Queensland Diabetes Centre at The Mater
  • Private practicing endocrinology
    - Dr Stephen Thornley, Southern Endocrine Pty Ltd, Sydney
    - Dr Jennifer Conn, Royal Parade Endocrine Group, Melbourne
  • Rural/regional diabetes services
    - John Kilmartin, Diabetes Nurse Practitioner, Shepparton, VIC
    - Ann Robinson, Diabetes Educator, The Townsville Hospital, QLD
  • Health psychology and Counselling
    - Dr Linda Beeney, Consulting Diabetes / Medical Psychologist
    - Helen Edwards, Founder and Director, Diabetes Counselling Online Inc.
  • Health promotion, social marketing and health behaviours
    - Professor Sandra Jones, Director, Centre for Health Initiatives, University of Wollongong
  • Medical education
    -     Dr Jennifer Conn, The University of Melbourne

People with Type 1 diabetes:
- Jane Reid, Cooranbong, NSW
- Anthony Lambert-Johnston, Melbourne
- Zoe Hamilton, Melbourne
- Karen Samuel, Melbourne
- Ron Raab, Melbourne
- Cheryl Steele, Melbourne
- Amy Nicholls, London (ex pat)
- Steven Brett, Sydney
- Susan Greenbank, Brisbane
- Christopher Hedemann, Brisbane
- Michael Leeds, Perth
- Terry Lee-Williams, Sydney
- Tony Bernauer, Sydney
- Valma Datson, Melbourne

Parents of children/adults with Type 1 diabetes
- Marilyn Harrington, Canberra
- Steven Brett, Sydney
- Veronique Froelich, Koonoomoo, Victoria
- Cheryl Steele, Melbourne

Download a printable Membership List (PDF, 120KB)

Opinion Leaders' Discussion Forum

Members Only: www.d1.org.au/forum/

Submissions Invited

We welcome submissions from people affected by Type 1 diabetes, health professionals or any other person who wishes to contribute to the process.

Please complete the form at the following link:
www.d1.org.au/issues_submission.html

Deadline 30th June 2008.

Selection of Further Background Reading

National Service Improvement Framework for Diabetes, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2005

National System for Monitoring Diabetes in Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006

National Diabetes Strategy 2000-2004, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2005

Evidence-based guidelines for the management of diabetes, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

National Needs Assessment for Children and Adolescents with Diabetes, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Australia, 1999
(not available online)

Consumer Representatives

An open call for people with Type 1 Diabetes, as well as others personally affected, to register an Expression of Interest to participate in the Opinion Leaders Group, was undertaken during March 2008.

More than fifty applications were received from across Australia.

Participants are being selected with the view to ensuring diverse participation and representation from all corners of the Type 1 community.

All nominees have now been advised in writing of the status of their application.

How to support this work

The development of the Type 1 Diabetes Issues Statement is not sponsored or funded in any way. All participants are donating their time and The Type 1 Diabetes Network's officers who are facilitating the process are also unpaid volunteers.

Costs associated with the process are being kept to a minimum but essential items such as teleconferencing fees and website hosting are supported by donations from our members and other individual supporters.

If you are able to support The Type 1 Diabetes Network and this important initiative, all gifts over $2 are tax-deductible, and will extend what we are able to do to support this project.

Make a Donation to the Type 1 Diabetes Network

News & Updates

Updates about the development of the Type 1 Issues Statement, and the Type 1 Opinion Leaders Group, including opportunities for contributing, will be made through our monthly email newsletter, Yada Yada.

Subscribe here to Yada Yada
free Australian e-newsletter about Type 1 Diabetes
Your Email:
Our Privacy Policy

For further information, or to make suggestions, please contact:

Kate Gilbert
Founder & President
The Type 1 Diabetes Network Inc.
Email: kate@d1.org.au
Phone: 0402 515 825
Post: PO Box 1293, Kensington Vic 3031

Page revised July 19, 2008

xceed