What is available?
Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned Diabetes Tasmania to provide diabetes and dietetic education and support services for eligible Tasmanians plus support for GPs and other healthcare providers delivering diabetes care.
Diabetes educators, dietitians and a nurse practitioner can provide:
- one-on-one diabetes and dietetic clinical consultations
- participation in case conferences and care-planning sessions with GPs and other relevant healthcare providers
- telehealth and phone support.
Eligible people also have access to the following programs delivered by Diabetes Tasmania (not funded by Primary Health Tasmania):
- Diabetes Education Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND): a one-day workshop designed to help participants find out more about managing type 2 diabetes and the practical aspects of living with diabetes
- SMART programs: a series of short, specific type 2 diabetes programs such as CarbSmart, ShopSmart, MeterSmart and FootSmart
- the COACH Program®: a telephone-based coaching service for people at risk of or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, designed to help them meet their health goals and reduce diabetes risk factors.
Who is eligible?
One-on-one consultations with a diabetes educator and dietetic consultations are available for people with type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, or at high-risk of diabetes. Referrals for paediatric clients, allergies or eating disorders are not suitable.
Adults with type 2 diabetes are eligible for the DESMOND, SMART and COACH programs. The COACH program is also open to adults at high risk of diabetes or with pre-diabetes.
Where is it available?
These services are available to people living in the following local government areas: Break O'Day, Brighton (Bridgewater), Burnie, Central Coast, Central Highlands, Circular Head, Clarence (Richmond), Derwent Valley, Devonport, Dorset, Flinders Island, George Town, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Huon Valley, Kentish, King Island, Kingborough (Bruny Island), Latrobe, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, Southern Midlands, Tasman, Waratah/Wynyard, West Coast, and West Tamar.
Not all services are physically delivered in every local community, but eligible people in the areas indicated have access to the services either face-to-face or through other means such as phone support. Speak to the service provider (below) for more information.
Who can make a referral?
GP referral is required for all one-on-one consultations. In addition to GP referral, all other services can be referred by other health providers, or by self-referral. Any questions relating to referrals are welcomed.
How much does it cost?
All one-on-one consultations with diabetes educators and dietitians are free to eligible people, under Primary Health Tasmania funding.
There is a nominal charge of $10 for DESMOND (includes a light lunch and take-home resources), and $5 for the SMART programs (includes take-home resources).
The COACH Program is free.
Is there a related Tasmanian HealthPathway?
Yes. Health professionals can log in to the Tasmanian HealthPathways portal and search Diabetes, under Medical.