Already a member? Click here to login.
Already a member? Click here to login.
12 November 2024—Our commitment to enhancing diabetes care and championing the pivotal role of Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) has only grown stronger.
During the past year, we worked closely with members to respond to the Federal Government’s consultation on Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce — Scope of Practice Review through written submissions, in-person meetings, and advice provided by our CDE Advisory Group.
The final report, released on 30 October, highlights key advancements in diabetes care and recognises the critical contributions of CDEs within Australia’s healthcare system.
It reflects many of our long-standing advocacy efforts, with recommendations that align closely with our priorities.
This report represents a tangible step forward, reinforcing the importance of CDEs and laying the groundwork for continued progress in diabetes education and care.
The report’s recommendations are supported by implementation actions aimed at strengthening and modernising primary care to meet current and future needs.
The report recommends allowing CDEs to refer clients directly to endocrinologists. This marks a significant step toward recognising CDEs as primary care providers with referral authority. Additional pathways, such as endocrinologists and allied health professionals referring to CDEs, were not included. However, we consider this recommendation a foundational step and will continue to advocate for expanded referral capabilities, ultimately enabling other allied health professionals and specialists to refer directly to CDEs.
The emphasis on collaborative, team-based care aligns with our advocacy for holistic and patient-centred diabetes management. This reinforces CDEs as integral members of multidisciplinary teams. We have advocated for this throughout the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the Parliamentary Inquiry and will continue to push for additional funding and support for multidisciplinary diabetes care teams.
The recommendation to implement a blended funding model is a significant advancement toward sustainable funding for multidisciplinary, team-based care. This approach moves away from fee-for-service models, reflecting our position that managing complex conditions like diabetes requires collaboration-focused funding.
The report calls for streamlined regulatory processes across state and national levels, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and ensure consistent practice standards for CDEs.
The report recommends amending the National Law to grant the Health Ministers’ Meeting clearer and more consistent policy authority over the registration and accreditation functions of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). We will monitor these developments, particularly as they progress alongside the current NRAS consultation, to understand their implications for CDEs.
The report also highlights other areas where our advocacy will be crucial:
ADEA CEO Susan Davidson described the report as ‘meaningful progress for CDEs and the broader diabetes care community’.
‘Adoption of these recommendations would streamline care pathways and improve access to specialist care for people living with diabetes,’ Ms Davidson said.
‘With adoption of the recommendations and support for its implementation actions, the government will signal its strong commitment to strengthening Australia’s primary care sector and improving health outcomes nationwide.’
As these recommendations move toward government consideration and implementation, we will continue to advocate.
We will keep you informed and provide resources and guidance to help you navigate these changes.
Your feedback will be critical to ensuring that our advocacy remains aligned with your needs.
To read the full Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce — Scope of Practice Review report, please click here
Thank you for your dedication to advancing diabetes care in Australia.
12 November 2024—Our commitment to enhancing diabetes care and championing the pivotal role of Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) has only grown stronger.
During the past year, we worked closely with members to respond to the Federal Government’s consultation on Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce — Scope of Practice Review through written submissions, in-person meetings, and advice provided by our CDE Advisory Group.
The final report, released on 30 October, highlights key advancements in diabetes care and recognises the critical contributions of CDEs within Australia’s healthcare system.
It reflects many of our long-standing advocacy efforts, with recommendations that align closely with our priorities.
This report represents a tangible step forward, reinforcing the importance of CDEs and laying the groundwork for continued progress in diabetes education and care.
The report’s recommendations are supported by implementation actions aimed at strengthening and modernising primary care to meet current and future needs.
The report recommends allowing CDEs to refer clients directly to endocrinologists. This marks a significant step toward recognising CDEs as primary care providers with referral authority. Additional pathways, such as endocrinologists and allied health professionals referring to CDEs, were not included. However, we consider this recommendation a foundational step and will continue to advocate for expanded referral capabilities, ultimately enabling other allied health professionals and specialists to refer directly to CDEs.
The emphasis on collaborative, team-based care aligns with our advocacy for holistic and patient-centred diabetes management. This reinforces CDEs as integral members of multidisciplinary teams. We have advocated for this throughout the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the Parliamentary Inquiry and will continue to push for additional funding and support for multidisciplinary diabetes care teams.
The recommendation to implement a blended funding model is a significant advancement toward sustainable funding for multidisciplinary, team-based care. This approach moves away from fee-for-service models, reflecting our position that managing complex conditions like diabetes requires collaboration-focused funding.
The report calls for streamlined regulatory processes across state and national levels, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and ensure consistent practice standards for CDEs.
The report recommends amending the National Law to grant the Health Ministers’ Meeting clearer and more consistent policy authority over the registration and accreditation functions of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). We will monitor these developments, particularly as they progress alongside the current NRAS consultation, to understand their implications for CDEs.
The report also highlights other areas where our advocacy will be crucial:
ADEA CEO Susan Davidson described the report as ‘meaningful progress for CDEs and the broader diabetes care community’.
‘Adoption of these recommendations would streamline care pathways and improve access to specialist care for people living with diabetes,’ Ms Davidson said.
‘With adoption of the recommendations and support for its implementation actions, the government will signal its strong commitment to strengthening Australia’s primary care sector and improving health outcomes nationwide.’
As these recommendations move toward government consideration and implementation, we will continue to advocate.
We will keep you informed and provide resources and guidance to help you navigate these changes.
Your feedback will be critical to ensuring that our advocacy remains aligned with your needs.
To read the full Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce — Scope of Practice Review report, please click here
Thank you for your dedication to advancing diabetes care in Australia.
