Rural and Remote Health - Education and Health Resources
See below a wide range of selected resources for use by allied health professionals working in our kidney community, but especially those working in remote and rural regions of Australia's vast land.
Kidney Health Australia and Amgen Australia have joined an initiative - The National Renal Indigenous Resource Collaborative (NRIRC) - to pool and share existing education resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In this process gaps in existing resources for Indigenous peoples will be identified and work commissioned to fill those gaps. This will be a continuing and exciting project which will focus on standardising messages around Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). It will ensure high quality material is available in a format which may be easily amended, so it may be updated to be compatible for local regional use. This project is committed to the broader goal of a healthy lifestyle and CVD risk reduction, but with a kidney focus.
Note lead page Indigenous CKD Resources which lists the key recources identified via the review process outlined above and refer to the Indigenous CKD Stats webpage, which provides a CKD data snapshot for Indigenous Australians.
Vodcasts - KHA Health Education Forums online
Kidney patients across Australia can now access our Forums online via vodcast. This service is especially important for people in isolated regional and rural communities. Kidney Health Australia organises these Forums regularly in capital cities and some regional areas. REGISTER HERE to access the full features of this Vodcast - Login site if registered
Vodcast No 1 More vodcasts available soon - watch this space
Kidney Disease and Nutrition – Getting the most out of what you can eat
Register to be able to access the associated PowerPoint slides of support graphs and diagrams, etc which the presenter has provided for you. By registering you can also access other features of this presentation only available to Registered Users. You will then be notified by email when new vodcasts are available. We hope you enjoy this podcast filmed at a Kidney Health Australia ‘Well on My Way' Forum where you will hear a panel of experts answer questions from participants on many aspects of a renal diet, like:- The importance of nutrition and CKD: Heart health and kidney disease: Exercise, nutrition and bone health: Renal diets: myths and misconceptions.
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 Bush Tucker in Kidney Failure and Diabetes
Innovative and interesting guide written especially for people with CKD who enjoy Indigenous foods - especially highlighting a selection of more common foods eaten in rural and remote regions. Designed to assist the dietician and patient make appropriate choices. Hard copies from Renal Resource Centre 1800 257 189.
For composition of other foods, a more complete reference is "Tables of Composition of Australian Aboriginal Foods" by Janette Brand Miller, Keith W James and Patricia MA Maggiore 1993
Tomorrow People
A website about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being healthier and living longer – today, tomorrow and into the future. It explains how to improve your health by making a few simple changes to your eating habits and by being more active in your daily life. The Tomorrow People Booklet (PDF 2328 KB) is highly recommended - printable version.
"By taking a few simple steps, you can start making a real difference – for yourself and for the whole community, and especially for our young fellas. If we want our community to be healthier and stronger tomorrow, we need to start making changes today. Why not take the first step and start changing your life – and your health – for the better?"
MeasureUp An Australian Government Better Health Initiative
Evidence shows improving diet and being more physically active can help prevent or delay the onset of such chronic diseases. Also see our MeasureUp and CKD
Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy Education Flipchart - Published in partnership with Amgen, this teaching resource has been developed specifically to provide kidney health education to Indigenous communities. Written in simple, easy-to-read language, it provides concise and clear information on the functions of the kidneys, how the kidneys can be damaged, what clinical tests should be done regularly and how to keep kidneys healthy.
Kidney Disease: Preparing for dialysis treatment - video for people of Aboriginal heritage living remotely and preparing for dialysis treatment, highlights the importance of dialysis and what to expect while receiving treatment. To order these resources, use the KHA Resource Order Form or email enquiries to info@kidney.org.au
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet - Kidney Health section of this website contains many valuable resources. Among these refer to Programs and Projects and Kidney Disease in plain language.
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website is a 'one-stop info-shop' that aims to contribute to 'closing the gap' by informing practice and policy in Indigenous health, by making research and other knowledge accessible. It also supports 'Yarning Places' (e-networks) to encourage information-sharing and collaboration among people working in health and related sectors.
Diabetes and CKD
Diabetes Australia - VIC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program
Indigenous Allied Health Australia
For all Indigenous allied health professionals and students wishing to network, share information and ideas - check out this website.
Management of Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Remote Australia
The National Service Guidelines (2006) published by NT Governmenton behalf of the Australian Health Ministers' Conference, identify operational and resource requirements necessary to provide accessible, high quality end-stage kidney disease services in rural and remote Australia and cover treatments including CKD management, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation.
Online Cancer Care Education Program EPICC
This free online Cancer Care Education Program which aims to improve the quality of cancer care particularly in rural and regional Australia by providing greater opportunities for non-cancer specialist medical practitioners (general practitioners, gynaecologists, surgeons, general physicians, etc) to increase knowledge of cancer management. This program provides cancer education through five broad topics so medical practitioners may gain knowledge in specific areas of cancer management as required for their practice or, complete the entire program for a comprehensive understanding of cancer management in order to play a more active role in the delivery of quality cancer care.Topics include the general principles of cancer care, side effects of cancer treatment, oncological emergencies, psychosocial care and follow up.
Aboriginal Vascular Health Program (NSW Better Health Centre)
A broad vascular health approach (including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and kidney disease) has been taken, rather than a single disease or body part focus, because of the common risk conditions which place Aboriginal people at greater risk for these diseases. Information on the common approaches needed to prevent and manage these conditions in Aboriginal communities. Hard copies of publications can be obtained from NSW Better Health Centre - Ph 02 9816 0452 or fax Better Health Centre General Publication Form to 02 9816 0492.
Be aware - clip may contain names, images and voices of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people who may now be deceased
Message from Mandawuy Yunupingu - Keep your kidneys healthy!
View Mandawuy Yunupingu's Australian Story on ABC-TV
Lead singer of Yothu Yindi, Mandawuy Yunupingu (pictured left) is the face of one of Australia's top rock bands. He is a teacher as well as an artist, who via his music became one of the most powerful Aboriginal voices in the country. Through Yothu Yindi's unique sound, combining rock music with ancient Indigenous music, hits like 'Treaty' and 'World Turning' won the band critical acclaim and fans around the world. He was named Australian of the Year in 1993.
Two years ago Mandawuy received news that changed his life when diagnosed with end stage kidney failure. He was powerless to fight the ravages of a chronic disease which affects many of his people, which can only be treated by regular dialysis or a kidney transplant. At present to stay alive, Mandawuy undergoes four hours of dialysis treatment three days a week. Now he's turned his powerful voice to a new message outlining his path to kidney disease, graphically outlining its effect on his family life, the limits it places on their lifestyle, etc. He hopes telling his story may help others to be more aware of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to keep your kidneys healthy.
Big Girls Don't Cry
Movie produced by Ronin Films Classification: Exempt - Ronin Recommends: PG Runtime: 26 min
Directed by: Darrin Ballangarry Language: English www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/2395132269.html The impact of renal disease is devastating, with a large number of those afflicted with CKD being Indigenous. The consequences upon Indigenous communities and families have a cultural as well as an emotional impact. The movie 'Big Girls Don't Cry' was produced in 2002, but the spirit in this story does not date. It presents a heart-rending insight into the disease of end-stage renal failure in remote and rural communities and shows the strength and resilience of 3 people and their families coping with end-stage renal failure.
The Scabies Story
Scabies is a serious health issue, endemic to Aboriginal communities around the state, which impacts heavily on health and well-being. This video is a comprehensive, locally developed and tested resource package to assist health and education providers deal with the issue of scabies in Aboriginal communities. It is evidence-based, and was developed in collaboration with the Menzies School of Health Research and the Centre for Communicable Disease Control in Darwin.
Rural Health Education Foundation - Online Broadcasts
To view programs register with Foundation's website and follow prompts
NHMRC Podcast: Interview with Dr Elisabeth Hodson 'Good news on Indigenous kids health'
Each year NHMRC celebrates ten of Australia’s leading health and medical research projects with an interview series. In this podcast Dr Elisabeth Hodson, a physician at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, speaks with Dr Andi Horvath about how her current work with childhood kidney disease evolved over the past 35 years. Dr Hodson outlines her dual role as a physician who also problem-solves for the research team investigating health differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.
Updated 11 February 2010 |