New registrations

Registration with the NDSS provides:

• Access to a range of subsidised diabetes products to help you manage your diabetes. Access to products will vary depending on your needs.
• The NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700, which provides information about diabetes and the NDSS.
• Education and support provided by diabetes educators, dietitians and other health professionals.
• Programs and activities for you and your carer.

To register with the NDSS, you need to:

• complete this NDSS Registration Form
• The NDSS Registration Form can be completed and certified online by your health professional through the new NDSS Health Professional Portal or by using the form available to print from the NDSS website. If your health professional completes the form online through the NDSS Health Professional Portal, the form will be processed, and if all required information is supplied, confirmed within minutes. If a printed form is submitted, it can take up to seven days on receipt, to be processed and confirmation sent.
• if you are aged 15 years or under, or aged 16 years or older and require a primary carer or guardian the carer or guardian section of the registration form must be completed
• have the form signed (certified) by an authorised health professional as detailed on the form
• keep a copy of the registration form for your records and
• email the form to [email protected] (preferred option), or lodge by the methods listed on the form.

After your registration is processed you will receive:

• SMS—containing your NDSS registration number
• email—with your NDSS registration number and helpful information on how to access NDSS products and services to help you self-manage your diabetes.
• letter—containing your NDSS card and a letter with information on how to access NDSS products and services to help you self-manage your diabetes.

If you haven’t received your NDSS confirmation, please call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 to confirm that your contact details are correct.

If you need to access products, services and support through the NDSS while you are waiting for your physical NDSS registration card, you can present your certified registration form, your Medicare card, or NDSS registration number provided via SMS or email. Visit any NDSS Access Point (usually a community pharmacy) to access products available through the NDSS at subsidised prices. If you have any difficulties accessing subsidised products, ask them to call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 for further assistance.

You can register if you:

• live in Australia or
• area resident of a country with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (and not visiting on a student visa if a resident of Finland, Malta, Norway or the Republic of Ireland)
• have been diagnosed with any type of diabetes by your doctor or
• have other eligible conditions requiring regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and
• hold (or are eligible to hold) a Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card.

You are not eligible to register if you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia, sometimes referred to as pre-diabetes.

People with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or ‘other’ diabetes may apply to be registered with the NDSS. ‘Other’ diabetes includes diabetes relating to:

1. genetic defects of beta cell function (e.g. MODY 1,2,3,4,5,6)
2. genetic defects in insulin action
3. diseases of the exocrine pancreas (e.g. neoplasia, cancer of the pancreas, cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis)
4. endocrinopathies (e.g. Cushing’s)
5. drug or chemical induced (e.g. Vacor, Nicotinic Acid, Glucocorticoids, Thiazides)
6. infections (e.g. congenital rubella, Coxsackie, CMV)
7. uncommon forms of immune-mediated diabetes
8. other genetic syndromes sometimes associated with diabetes.

For more information on how to register with ‘other’ diabetes go to Other types of diabetes and download the ‘Other’ diabetes eligible to register with the NDSS list.

If you are a visitor to Australia from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, you may be entitled to temporary registration to the NDSS.

These countries include Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

However, visitors on a student visa from Finland, Malta, Norway and the Republic of Ireland are not eligible.

For more information, visit the Services Australia website.