DANII’s Gift: Government funding brings lifesaving CGM technology within reach of Australian children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes 

1 April 2017 marked an extraordinary milestone for Australia’s Type 1 diabetes community and for the DANII Foundation. 

The Australian Government commenced funding for Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), providing fully subsidised access for eligible children and young people under 21 living with Type 1 diabetes. 

The Australian Government committed $54 million to the initiative, which was expected at its commencement to assist approximately 4,000 Australian children, young people and their families. 

For the DANII Foundation, the announcement represented the culmination of years of campaigning, education and advocacy for greater awareness and accessibility of CGM technology. 

Why CGM mattered so much to DANII 

The DANII Foundation was established following the loss of 17-year-old Daniella Meads-Barlow in 2011 from nocturnal hypoglycaemia. 

Daniella’s parents, Donna and Brian Meads-Barlow, subsequently learned about Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology and the alarms it can provide when glucose levels become dangerously high or low. 

From the Foundation’s earliest days, increasing awareness of CGM technology and advocating for affordable access became central to DANII’s mission. 

The Foundation campaigned alongside Australia’s Type 1 diabetes community to ensure families had access to technology capable of helping them manage glucose levels around the clock. 

“In many ways… this is your day” 

At the Government’s CGM announcement on 1 April 2017, then Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt publicly acknowledged the contribution of the DANII Foundation and Donna Meads-Barlow. 

Speaking at the announcement, Minister Hunt said: 

“The DANII Foundation and Donna, in many ways along with others, this is your day.” 

That acknowledgement remains a very special moment in the history of the DANII Foundation. 

 

A landmark moment for Australia’s Type 1 diabetes community – Donna Meads-Barlow, the DANII Foundation community and then Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt during the campaign for greater access to CGM technology. © DANII Foundation 

DANII’s Gift 

For Donna and Brian, the announcement had an intensely personal significance. 

The Foundation described the achievement as “DANII’s Gift” — creating something positive for other families from the devastating loss of their daughter. 

DANII’s own media release at the time described the Government’s decision as a “first but very significant step” towards making CGM technology available to Australians living with Type 1 diabetes. 

 The DANII Foundation’s #NOMoreFEAR campaign called for lifesaving CGM technology to be affordable and accessible to Australians living with Type 1 diabetes. © DANII Foundation 

Taking the message across Australia 

The funding announcement wasn’t the end of DANII’s work. 

Following the commencement of the Government initiative, the DANII Foundation undertook a 17-location national CGM education and awareness roadshow, helping families understand CGM technology, the Government program and how eligible people could access subsidised devices. 

The roadshow travelled from Hobart through communities across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia during April and May 2017. 

DANII Foundation volunteers taking the CGM education and awareness message into the community. © DANII Foundation 

The campaign continued 

The 2017 announcement represented a major breakthrough, but DANII continued advocating for broader access to diabetes technology. 

In 2019, Government-funded CGM eligibility was expanded significantly, with approximately 37,000 Australians expected to become eligible following the changes. 

The DANII Foundation has continued its work in diabetes technology access, education and advocacy — driven by the belief that potentially lifesaving technology should be accessible to Australians who need it. 

An emotional moment following years of advocacy for access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology. © DANII Foundation 

From tragedy came a promise. From that promise came change. 

Daniella’s legacy continues through the work of the DANII Foundation and the thousands of Australian families whose lives have been changed by greater access to diabetes technology. 

DANII Foundation – Diabetes Awareness, Advocacy & Technology Access 

DANII’S GIFT continues.