Page 2467 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
by checking with their doctor or attending one of the free clinics. Secondly, I would like to acknowledge the great work of Diabetes NSW & ACT. They perform a number of clinics and provide support, advice, connections and referrals for people. That information about how to better manage your condition is vital, especially in the early stages, when you are first diagnosed.
Thirdly, I would like to thank the professionals who work in this area. A number of different disciplines within the health sector specialise in diabetes or have a focus on it within their other practice. They include professionals such as diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists, nurses, exercise physiologists and other health professionals. They work very hard to assist people living with diabetes.
The thrust of the motion is about confronting diabetes in the workplace. As a first step I have suggested that the ACT government could facilitate the testing of ACT public servants for this chronic health condition. We could be doing more. It is a preventative health measure—by identifying early we can stop the serious later complications. It is not intended to be mandatory testing, but having it available in the workplace makes it easy and simple for people to pop down to one of the testing sites.
We need to confront diabetes in the workplace. By ensuring that ACT public servants can be tested early and easily in their workplace they will be healthier for longer and will be able to stay in the workplace for longer, probably through to retirement, as opposed to having medical issues that mean they have to leave the workplace early. Awareness and early diagnosis is the first step towards achieving the best possible outcome for people living with diabetes.
Through this motion I call on the ACT government to work closely with Diabetes NSW & ACT to ensure that ACT public servants can be tested for diabetes. Whilst presenting some facts and figures about diabetes, the thrust of the motion today is calling on the ACT government and all of us here to recognise and applaud the work of diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists, nurses, exercise physiologists and other health workers who strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for the people of the ACT who have diagnosed diabetes and to work closely with Diabetes NSW & ACT to ensure that testing of ACT public servants in the workplace for diabetes is available. I hope members will support my motion.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Disability, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, Minister for Health, Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.45): I thank Ms Lawder for bringing this matter before us today. It highlights the growing impact that diabetes has on our community and the important work done by health workers working with people with diabetes in the ACT. I note that Ms Lawder’s motion additionally calls for the ACT government to work closely with Diabetes NSW & ACT to ensure diabetes testing of ACT public servants in the workplace.
I wish to amend an element of the motion, and I therefore move the amendment standing in my name:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video