The National Kidney Consumer Council
The National Kidney Consumer Council is an important advocacy group that works with Kidney Health Australia. Its aim is to amplify the voices of people living with kidney disease, and foster support and improvements.
Purpose
The National Kidney Consumer Council was formed in 2003. It works at a national level to make a positive impact on the lives of people affected by kidney disease. It:
- Acts as a link to the wider patient community, identifying and prioritising any unaddressed issues or changes impacting kidney patients and their carers, either negative or positive.
- Provides Kidney Health Australia and, where possible, the broader clinical community with an open and frank mechanism for feedback on policy, priorities, collateral and bodies of work supporting people living with kidney disease.
- Advises and supports Kidney Health Australia in regard to consumer involvement in kidney research.
- Supports Kidney Health Australia, where requested, in advocating for change to public health policy from the kidney patient perspective.
- Supports Kidney Health Australia, as available, at public events that raise the profile of kidney disease.
- Works with Kidney Health Australia to educate about and raise the profile of kidney disease and the programs and services offered by Kidney Health Australia, within local communities and networks.
Structure
The National Kidney Consumer Council meets every two months and is comprised of:
- 8-10 Australians affected by kidney disease drawn from a wide range of kidney disorders (including carers), socio-economic groups and with a national representation (one of these representatives is the Chair of the Council)
- our Chair
- members of the Kidney Health Australia team as ex-officio members.
Current members
- Paolo Cardelli, SA (Chair)
- William Handke, ACT
- Dr Brooke Huuskes, Vic
- Shaun Johnson, WA
- Mason Little, Vic
- Luke Macauley, SA
- Barry Mackinnon, WA
- David Morgan, Vic
- Shyam Muthuramalingam, SA
- Tamara Paget, SA
- Cilla Preece, Qld
- Peter Williams, Vic
Get involved
We want to know the current issues affecting our kidney community. If you’d like to share your voice, we encourage you to contact us by emailing consumer@kidney.org.au.
