One Australian is diagnosed with diabetes every eight minutes, new research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found. Yet one more statistic to concern the Co-Chairs of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Diabetes Group, whom I met on-line with PDGN Patron, the Hon Judi Moylan AO.
MPs, Graham Perrett and Rowan Ramsey are the driving forces behind a 20- member cross-party group that claims to be the oldest ‘Parliamentary Friends Group’, to give it its full title.
CAPTION: “We co-chair the Friends of Diabetes,” says Graham Perrett MP, “but we ought to be called the enemies of diabetes.”
They remarked that there are now probably too many friendship groups in the Parliament competing for members. “We ought to rename ours, Enemies of Diabetes, in order to make it stand out”, says Graham.
The key, says Rowan, is to come up with interesting events to attract fellow MPs to get involved. They also partner with outside groups to lobby on issues and work most closely with Diabetes Australia.
Meetings in person work best as they have found on-line meetings less successful. “Do few, and do them well”, advises Rowan.
CAPTION: Meetings – “Do few, and do them well,” Says Rowan Ramsey MP
Actions for marginalised groups are among the many issues the groups’ members have raised in Parliament. With high levels of diabetes among indigenous populations such as those who reside in the Torres Strait Islands, in the Northern Territories and other remote areas, the key to prevention, early diagnosis and treatments, is to find people from within those communities to lead. They both agree that top-down solutions rarely reach those they are supposed to.
PDGN Patron, Judi Moylan, is working on a history of the Friends which she was instrumental in forming when she served as an MP for 20 years between 1993 and 2013.
CAPTION: Judi Moylan AO
Advocacy Action: What is your group up to? Can you let others know? Can PDGN help you to instigate or grow a group? Cross Party groups are often the most effective advocating for diabetes. Contact PDGN [email protected]