Federal budget strengthens health system but omits diabetes workforce and care investment: ADEA
- ADEA
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
The Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) says the 2026–27 federal budget has missed a critical opportunity to increase support for the diabetes workforce and improve care for people living with diabetes, despite significant investment across Australia's health system.
The budget, delivered on 12 May, outlines substantial funding to strengthen health and care services, including an additional $25 billion for public hospitals, bringing total Commonwealth hospital funding to a record $220 billion over five years.
Other major investments include Medicare, continued efforts to reduce the cost of medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and ongoing reforms across aged care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme aimed at improving sustainability and access.
ADEA acknowledges the government's focus on improving access, affordability and system sustainability, and the potential for these broader investments to support people living with diabetes.
However, ADEA notes that these broader commitments are not matched by targeted new or expanded investment in diabetes care, education or workforce capacity to address the growing prevalence of diabetes and its increasing impact on the health system.
The budget does not include new funding to expand access to continuous glucose monitoring or insulin delivery technologies, enhance existing diabetes support programs, or invest in diabetes education, self-management support, or the specialist workforce, including funding for consultations with Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) in primary care and as part of multidisciplinary teams to support the delivery of care.
These measures were identified by ADEA and its partners as priority areas in pre-budget submissions to improve care and strengthen the diabetes workforce to support self-management and reduce hospital demand.
This stands in contrast to the government’s broader stated priorities of prevention, primary care, and reducing long-term pressure on hospitals.
Across the allied health sector, there has been concern that while the budget includes major system-level investments, it does not improve access to multidisciplinary care that underpins effective management of chronic conditions.
ADEA and its partners look forward to working with the government and the broader health sector to help ensure further investment in diabetes care is prioritised in future budgets.
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