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This page is especially for Kidney Kids. We want you to know that we think Kidney Kids are everyday heroes. We understand it's so much harder for a Kidney Kid to manage daily issues in everyday life, but admire the courage and bravery displayed when just 'doing it' and getting on with life. Read our latest KIDney Chat Newsletter for your latest news. Other issues are available at the bottom of this page.
Special books we recommend for Kidney Kids

The Kids Companion on Kidneys and Kyla's Kidney Adventure are stories which tell it how it is to be a kid with CKD, on dialysis, waiting for a transplant. It describes how different and difficult life is when you can only eat certain foods and drink limited fluids, etc. and have dialysis regularly to live. Perhaps you could recommend these books to family, friends, teachers etc. to help them understand - they will soon know why we think you are heroes.
Kidney Kids Camps
Each year we organise holiday camps, kids capers and fun holdiay activities, with the aim of providing people of all ages with kidney disease, their families and carers an enjoyable break from normal routine.
Kidney Kids Camp are five-days of FUN, especially for 'Kidney Kids' - 7 to 17 years and are held in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria or Tasmania on an 18 month rotational basis -nationally soon. The KK Camp caters for between 50 to 60 Kidney Kids, with equal numbers of carers.
NSW Kidney Kids Capers 28 to 29 September 2008
Two days of great entertainment, begins at Taronga Zoo for the family fun day. Lunch will be provided. Monday will be exciting. The kidney kids will be spending the day at Luna Park.
WA Kidney Kids Capers - 29 September to 1 October 2008
The family fun day will be held on the public holiday Monday at Rottnest Island. This will include a boat tour to and from Rottnest Island, a smorgasbord lunch, tunnels tour and an experience on a glass bottomed boat. Tuesday and Wednesday will be full of activities including Zone 3, ten pin bowling and a full day with the Teamworks program again at Challenge Stadium.
SA Kidney Kids Capers - 28 to 29 September 2008
South Australian kidney kids start at the Zoo for their family fun day on the Sunday. Monday will be full of excitement starting at AMF ten pin bowling and finishing with a movie at Picadilly Cinema.
Apply at your renal unit or contact Kidney Health Australia in your state to receive more information about upcoming Kidney Kids Capers. Travel and accommodation subsidies may be available for families that live outside the metro area.
Previous Kidney Camps
Kidney Kids Camp 2007 was held at Camp Manyung - Mt Eliza, Victoria. See also photos from our previous camps:
The volunteers involved had almost as much fun as the kids. If you know anyone who would like to volunteer to help us with these activities, click link and fill out the Volunteer form. You must be an adult to do this.
LATEST NEWS - Kidney Kids can have their amazing Wishes come true!
Make-A-Wish Australia has been granting wishes to children and young people since 1985 and bring magic and joy to kids with a life-threatening illness, as well as unforgettable experiences, by granting a cherished Wish.
Make-A-Wish is offering Kidney Kids aged between 4 and 18 years a special 'Wish'. If you are a Kidney Kid, ask your parents to help you apply to Make-A-Wish, who are encouraging the parents or guardians of children and young people with end stage kidney disease to apply.
To be eligible the child's treating nephrologist needs to confirm that the child’s illness is life-threatening. Medically eligible children aged under 4 years are entitled to a “Wish Box” full of age-appropriate toys. For more information contact:
Make-A-Wish® Australia
383 Swan Street, Richmond, Victoria, Australia 3121
PO Box 5006, Burnley, Victoria, Australia 3121
Phone: (03) 9426 0777 Fax: (03) 9421 5870
Email: o.cunliffe@makeawish.org.au
Website: www.makeawish.org.au
Show your friends how their kidneys work
View "How Kidneys Work" flash View "How Dialysis Works" flash

Structure of the kidneys and bladder Diagram of how your healthy kidney works
Please note: some statements in the quiz and animations refer to USA measurements. To convert to Australian legal units of measurement, refer to this Australian Government website
Kidney Health Australia acknowledges the generosity of Da Vita (USA) for kindly allowing us to host this excellent teaching resource on our website. Da Vita is an American company who provide dialysis services to those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure.
Recommended links of interest to KIDney Kids
Click on links below to take you to kidney info from around the world . No matter what the reason, even if you are an adult 'kid at heart', you will have fun learning - some of these sites are very cool. Show your parents - they have kidneys too!
Have you just been diagnosed, or want to find out about dialysis, or transplantation. We want to ensure your web search gives you credible (evidence-based) information - go to Using the web under Kidney Disease this site, to find out how. You should ask your parents to research information with you, so they can help you understand. You may want to refer to our Kidney Glossary, which will tell you what some medical words mean.
These links are provided for your convenience. Although the quality of the sites has been checked, Kidney Health Australia takes no responsibility for their content or reliability. The listing of these sites should not be taken as our endorsement. Be aware, other sites may link to our website without our knowledge or permission. We appreciate you letting us know if a link is not connecting - research@kidney.org.au or phone Kidney Health Information Service 1800 682 531.
Kidney and Urinary Tract Education Resources
Health Living
- Better Health Channel: healthier living online (VIC) Quiz: How much do you know about your health
- Chapter 9 - Medications from KHA's Living with Kidney Failure 7th edition
- DaVita Highly recommended USA site - CKD, emotional health and wellbeing - sexuality, anger, depression, holiday blues, caregiver stress, sleep, positive thinking, benefits of pets, etc.
- Just the Facts: Dealing with Depression (also in Spanish)
- Just the Facts: Exercise for Life (also in Spanish)
- Just the Facts: Skin and Hair Problems on Dialysis (also in Spanish)
- Live Life Well NSW Health resource
- myDr.com.au - Health Toolkit - calculators to assess your health and wellbeing status, risk tests and learn more about healthy living with interactive quizzes
- SANE Australia Pfizer Report - Depression and Chronic Illness
- US Surgeon General's Report Features 3D presentation on consequences of smoking on the human body - including your kidneys
Info Line numbers, if you need someone to rap with
- Immediate URGENT assistance Australia - Police 000
- Kidney Health Info Line is 1800 682 531
- Kids Help Line - 1800 551 800 Free confidential, phone counselling service (5 to 25 yrs, in Australia)
- Life Goes On - HOPELINE 24 hour support 1300 364 673 - There are times, often after hours, when you need someone to talk to who can lift you out of the pit of despair and inspire you to carry on.
- SANE Helpline 1800 18 SANE (7263)
Kids like me with CKD
Read about Organ Donation and Transplantation

KIDney Kids - 10 to 18 year old - are invited to visit Livewire, a safe and positive environment giving members the opportunity to break through times of isolation, to share their experiences, support each other and realise their dreams and potential. Membership is free and open to any 10 to 18 year old living with serious illness or disability.
Just visit www.livewire.org.au to find out more about this community or register with Livewire team, Starlight Children’s Foundation, freecall 1300 727 827 or email info@livewire.org.au
Health Encyclopedia (En Español)
Kidney Glossary Kidney Health Australia - this site
Medical Online Dictionary Virtual Medical Centre Australia
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearing House (USA)
The Kidney Atlas Kidney disease information - complex science and medical information (best with high-speed connection)
The Kidney and diseases of the kidney Download individual chapters or with high-speed connection whole book (22 MB) - detailed and stunning graphics
Urodynamics Interesting information on the urinary system
Wikikidney.org Online encyclopedia of the Kidney
Wired for Health UK All about health and living well, easily understood - use images to navigate four entry levels, birth to 16 years. Each level offers separate kids, parent and teacher sections.
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Check out these links to awesome fun and interesting articles
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| A special site for Kidney Kids, their family and friends |
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| Newsletter especially for KIDney Kids |
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