STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr BIRRELL (Nicholls) (16:15): Dougal from my electorate is a 15-year-old, and I want to read his contribution to Raise Our Voice. He wrote: As someone living with Type 1 Diabetes, I want to alert you to a very important issue for our community. It is about affordability and access to insulin pumps.

To be able to access this technology you need to either purchase a pump outright—my pump currently costs $8,574—or have Private Health Insurance—something that is beyond the reach of many Australians currently. There are estimated to be up to 70% of people within our community that can't access this care simply because of cost. There is a lot of scientific evidence to back the fact that insulin pumps change lives.

Combined with the use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) the benefits are amplified. CGMs are already supported by the government through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) for type 1 diabetics (Thank You). Together these 2 devices have changed my life and provide an alternative management option to many within the T1D community.

I know that living with Type 1 Diabetes is relentless. I'm lucky that I have my family, my friends and my team around me to support me each and every day. Management options for Type 1 Diabetes should not be dictated by financial status, geographical location, age, gender or race.

Diabetics. We are all different. Options create freedom—something that my diabetes often takes away from me.

My insulin pump and my CGM have enabled me to be that carefree 15 year old growing up in Nicholls—and I hope that with your support other Type 1 Diabetics, both young and old, are able to be afforded those opportunities too.