Hi friends,

Your collective voice has been heard! We are thrilled to announce the release of the National AID Access Consensus Statement endorsed by people with lived experience and leading diabetes organisations across the nation.

The consensus statement highlights the transformative impact of AID on the lives of people with T1D, improving quality of life, glucose levels and reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Despite the evidence supporting AID as standard care, access in Australia remains limited due to financial barriers.

The launch of this statement coincides with the release of the Australian Parliamentary Diabetes Inquiry report, and we are delighted to see strong endorsement of increasing insulin pump access for more Aussies with T1D. Recommendation 16 states: The Australian Government should explore expanding subsidised access to insulin pumps for all Australians with Type 1 diabetes.

Inquiry committee chair, Dr Mike Freelander, was clear in his foreword to the report with these words: "There is now increasing evidence that a hybrid closed loop system using an insulin pump, CGM technology and a feedback system leads to better blood glucose control, reduced hypoglycaemic episodes, reduced complications, and much better outcomes for those with Type 1 diabetes, yet these systems are only available for a limited number of patients and more must be done to increase the availability of this technology."

Your support has been instrumental in bringing this together. By signing this petition and raising awareness, you have helped us amplify the voices of those affected by T1D and advocate for policy change. 

This was just the start! Let’s turn this into policy.

What you can do to help:

• Contact Your Local MP: Share the consensus statement with your local MP. Find their contact details here. Request an appointment to discuss the importance of this issue in their local office. Remember, MPs are elected to represent you and take important community issues to parliament. This is important!
• Write to Health Minister Butler: Send a letter to Health Minister Butler, attaching the consensus statement. Emphasise how this technology is life-changing. If you have access to AID, share your personal experience and its impact on your life. If you don’t, explain why access is critical for you and others.
• Spread the Word: Forward this update to your friends and family. Share it within your diabetes peer support networks and encourage them to pass it along. The more voices we have, the stronger our impact.
• Promote the Petition: Continue to share the petition to gather more support. Every response helps build a stronger case for policy change.

All the best!