First Nations Australians

Kidney Health is a trusted source of information and referral regarding the kidney health of people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A key priority is to work with local communities to address the inequities in care for First Nations Australians living with kidney disease.

First Nations peoples experience disproportionate levels of kidney disease, regardless of whether their locality is urban, regional or rural. Compared with the general population, they are five times more likely to develop kidney disease and four times more likely to die from kidney disease.

In remote and very remote areas of Australia, the incidence of kidney failure among First Nations Australians is especially high, with rates up to 20 times higher than those of comparable non-Indigenous peoples.

Kidney Health Australia works across the continuum of healthcare to support and improve the lives of First Nations peoples, their families and communities impacted by kidney disease.

We collaborate with expert groups to gather, review and share educational materials that are culturally sensitive to the needs of First Nations peoples. Resources promote healthy lifestyles and inform readers about the risk of cardiovascular disease, with a kidney focus.

We also deliver education on kidney disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners that is accredited by NATSIHWA (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Agency). Sessions are focused on kidney disease and the impacts on First Nation Peoples health. To find out more, visit our primary care education page.

Resource Library
Resource Library
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Kidney Health Flip chart
Kidney Health Flip chart
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Kidney stories toolkit
Kidney stories toolkit
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What do kidneys do fact sheet
What do kidneys do fact sheet
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What is chronic kidney disease fact sheet
What is chronic kidney disease fact sheet
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How can I keep my kidneys healthy and strong fact sheet
How can I keep my kidneys healthy and strong fact sheet
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Who needs a kidney health check
Who needs a kidney health check
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CARI First Nations Australians Consumer Summary
CARI First Nations Australians Consumer Summary
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Client Resources
Client Resources
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External Resources

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is Australia’s authority on comprehensive primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is a ‘one-stop info-shop’ established to help ‘close the gap’ by informing practice and policy in Indigenous health by making research and other knowledge accessible.

The Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) helps to alleviate the language barriers faced by many Aboriginal people throughout the Northern Territory. Guidance and advice can be provided with appropriate language selection, dialects, language level and cultural considerations. The service also offers cross-cultural training and workshops on how to work effectively with an Interpreter.

The Indigenous Observatory initiated by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is a repository of information on the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The website features reports, information updates and useful links.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association (NATSIHWA) is the peak body for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners in Australia.

The Menzies School of Health Research is Australia’s only medical research institute dedicated to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and well being. Its work addresses critical issues such as mental health, nutrition, substance abuse, child health and development, as well as chronic diseases including kidney disease, cancer and heart disease.

Yolngu Radio is a community development radio station providing information, music and entertainment to the Yolngu people of northeast Arnhem Land. It’s broadcast in the languages of the Yolngu people. Yolngu Radio is a part of Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS), which covers health concepts, specific diseases significant in Yolngu populations, and ‘responsive health messages’ on a range of topics.

Addressing the issues

The Australian Government provided funding to Kidney Health Australia to conduct consultations across metropolitan, rural and remote communities of Australia to inform the new Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) Guidelines for Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our team is conducting Yarning Kidney Consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health experts, consumers, community members, service providers and peak bodies around the country to ensure new guidelines are aligned with community preferences and needs.