Shaping the future of diabetes care at National Diabetes Summit

ADEA leaders attended the National Diabetes Summit and Exhibition 2026 in Canberra, joining national counterparts across policy, clinical care, research, lived experience, and peak bodies to shape priorities in diabetes prevention, equity, technology, and integrated care.

The summit focused on key national challenges and opportunities across the diabetes landscape, beginning with a discussion about Australia’s diabetes context, challenges, and momentum. This session explored the drivers of increasing prevalence, pressures on current models of care, and the lived experience of people managing diabetes, while highlighting areas of progress across policy, research, and community-led practice.

ADEA President Ann Bush and CEO Melanie Morris at the event on 31 March 2026.

Equity was a central theme, with a dedicated session about First Nations leadership in diabetes prevention and care. Discussions highlighted the importance of culturally safe, community-led models, workforce development, food security, and improving access and continuity of care in remote and regional settings.

Prevention was also a major focus, with discussions centred on reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes through holistic, community-led, and policy-enabled approaches. This included addressing social and commercial determinants of health, strengthening local environments, and building the case for long-term national investment in prevention.

The role of innovation in diabetes care featured prominently, with sessions examining how emerging developments, including GLP-1 therapies, early screening, connected devices, virtual care, and artificial intelligence, can be translated into equitable, real-world practice. Discussions considered policy, funding, and workforce readiness to ensure these innovations deliver meaningful benefit.

Integration across the health system was another key area of focus, with discussions on strengthening coordination between primary care, hospitals, and community services. This included improving data sharing, aligning funding with outcomes, and enabling more connected, person-centred care.

Strong representation across the diabetes sector, including ADEA Board Director and CDE Coralie Cross.

ADEA was strongly represented throughout the programme. Ann Bush, President, ADEA, delivered the welcome remarks, helping open the day’s discussions.

Coralie Cross, CDE Board Director, ADEA, contributed to the panel on Closing the Gap: First Nations Leadership in Diabetes Prevention and Care.

The summit included a keynote address from the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler.

The event, convened by Diabetes Australia, provided an important opportunity to engage with national health policy discussions, hear from senior leaders, and strengthen connections across the diabetes sector.