How can you become involved? Your concerns and story matter

As a young Aussie in our kidney community you may wish to share concerns and thoughts with others. Together you increase the power of one voice. Our Consumer Participation Council wants to know issues affecting youth in our Australian kidney community.

Your Kidney Blog (no login or registration)
Raise important issues and speak out, the first step to achieving change.
Topics are: Bloggers from our 'kidney' community I Donor Compensation I Early Detection and Prevention I Home dialysis I Organ Donation I Patient Transport
YAP Space - Kidney Katz
Tell us what's on your mind and be heard! For young Aussie's 16 to 25 - to link with anyone who lives with or is affected by kidney disease.
Login below to Forum I Chatline after you register to use YAP chat or the forum (24 hours a day).

Kidney Chat Newsletter
# July 2010 I #9 December 09 I #8 August 09 I #7 March 09 I #6 November 08

Facebook profile - Kidney Health Australia
Come join the fun with our Facebook friends (278 friends and climbing daily) - send us a message to become a Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/KidneyHealthAustralia

YouTube profile - KidneyHealthAus
Find us at www.youtube.com/user/KidneyHealthAus and add us as a friend. We have lots of playlists and video selections of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about their kidneys, or who wants to find out more about treatment and chronic kidney disease - start with our playlist selection on Kidney and urinary systems in the body.

Youth Helpline 1800 551 800 (24 hrs every day)
www.kidshelp.com.au is a fun and friendly website, a place where you can get help and connect. What is Kids Helpline? Young people (5 to 25 year) can phone, email or chat online with a counsellor!

You are invited to join Livewire
A supportive place for kids, teens and families to hang out, connect, share experiences, creatively express themselves and know they are not alone. Membership is free for any 10 to 21 year old living with serious illness or disability.

Youth Links - surf websites with fun resources, CKD sites especially for you!

These links are provided for your convenience - see specific selections at Organ Donation I Health Professionals I Patient Information. Although the quality of the weblinks below has been checked, Kidney Health Australia takes no responsibility for their content or reliability. Listing should not be taken as our endorsement. Be aware other sites may link to our website without our knowledge or permission. Let us know if a link is not connecting health@kidney.org.au or phone Kidney Health Information Service

For hearing impaired TTY/Voice 133 677 | Speak & Listen (SSR) 1300 555 727

Sites for young adults with CKD

Chronic Babe Online community for younger women with chronic health issues
Chebucto Teens health project, Nova Scotia Canada - hot topics to discuss with your friends
CKD online DaVita USA - animated flash on how the kidney and dialysis works!
Kidney education page Dr Raj provides info on what can go wrong with the kidney and urinary system - images, diagrams, xrays, info on treatment - excellent education module
Mental Health of Young People HealthInsite NSW website - Great info, to keep your cool!
Renal Services Network RSN Network serving those affected by kidney disease (USA website)
Reality Check For young adults with diabetes
Teenagers with chronic kidney disease DaVita - Guide to living a full life
Teens Health - Hot Topics Heaps of articles on lifestyle issues teenagers want to know about USA
Teens First for Life UK Tips on just about everything to do with teens and life, health and hospital!

Sites for Kidney Kids

iKidney: Kids and Parents For kidney kids and their families - heaps of info on many subjects
Kids Companion on Kidneys KHA publication Family friends I Important contacts I Tablet timetable
Kidney Kids Cooking Have fun with cooking power food that your kidney will love - USA
Kids First for Life Tips on just about everything to do with kids and life, health and hospital! UK
Kidney Kids Health Parents - Kids and Tenn section - Info on how a child with CKD might feel and what treatments may be involved USA
Kidney Kids Fun page Kidney Health NZ - information, books, puzzles and colouring pages
Kidney Kids Support Group New Zealand Visit Kee-Wee who guides you through the kidney world
Playnormous Health games, have fun and learn about your health at the same time USA
Websites for Kidney Kids and their families - Kidney Times Broad spectrum of useful information
What kids need to know about Kidneys

Kidney and Urinary Tract Educational Resources - including awesome 3D animations

A guide to 'Using the Web' to research health information KHA webpage
Blausen Medical Atlas Amazing resource shows the human body and various health conditions
Chronic Kidney Disease education DaVita
Health Encyclopedia also En Español
*Dorlands Medical Dictionary *Interactive Body Guide
*3D Medical Animations - Urinary System Recommended animations:- *Introduction *Kidneys: location and structure *Kidneys: function *Urine production
How stuff works - kidney and urinary system Discovery Health Beyond
Karolinska Institute of Urology Patient information collection
Kidney Times Online Quiz USA
Kidney Glossary Kidney Health Australia
Kidney and Urinary Tract Disorders Mercksource Health Library
Kidney education modules USA - Patient Education Institute
(Also in Spanish) *IVP (Intra Venous Pyelogram) *Kidney Failure *Kidney Stones *Kidney Transplant
Medical Online Dictionary Virtual Medical Centre Australia
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearing House
The Kidney Atlas sets out complex science and medical education on the kidney (best with high-speed connection)
The Kidney and diseases of the kidney Chapters or awesome book (22 MB) with many fine graphics (high-speed connection)
Urodynamics Interesting information on the urinary system
Virtual Medical Centre WA 3D animation
*Bladder Cancer *Bladder Incontinence *Bladder Infection *Blood Pressure *Diabetic Nephropathy *Kidney Dialysis *Kidney Stones *Kidney Transplant *Urinary Tract Infection
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.

Healthy Living

Better Health Channel: healthier living online (VIC) Quiz: How much do you know about your health
Beyond Blue National Australian Depression Initiative 1300 224 636
Chapter 9 - Medications from KHA's Living with Kidney Failure 7th edition
Da Vita Highly recommended USA site - CKD, emotional health and wellbeing - sexuality, anger, depression, holiday blues, caregiver stress, sleep, positive thinking, benefits of pets, etc.
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet - Lower blood pressure through diet and exercise
Global Dialysis Cartoons monthly cartoons Peter Quaiffe (former bassist-The Kinks)
- The Lighter Side of Dialysis" courtesy Jazz Communications and Lori Hartwell Cartoons
Live Life Well A 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
There’s No Such Thing As A Silly Question Guide for families living with a child with chronic illness, disability, mental illness or a life-threatening condition - free copy from Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation - 08 8464 7900 or nosuchthing@wchfoundation.org.au

How to get the most out of life

Chapter 9 - Medications from KHA's Living with Kidney Failure 7th edition
Chapter 12 - Getting the most out of life from KHA's Living with Kidney Failure 7th edition
Chapter 11 - Living with kidney failure from KHA's Living with Kidney Failure 7th edition
Chapter 13 - Sexuality, intimacy and fertility from KHA's Living with Kidney Failure 7th edition
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)
Participate in Health Aussie site with useful health consumer info - 22 page guide
Rehabilitation and Exercise on dialysis brochure from Renal Resource Centre, NSW
Urinary Tract Infections Find out how to avoid them

Healthier life choices

Better Health Channel: healthier living online (VIC) Quiz: How much do you know about your health
Beyond Blue For youth a National Australian depression initiative 1300 224 636
Be a player – Get up and play an hour a day NIH USA website: SmallSteps program - HealthierUS.gov You'll enjoy this one!
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet - Lower blood pressure through diet and exercise
Life Goes On HOPELINE 24 hr support 1300 364 673 - There are times, often after hours, when you need someone to talk to - someone who can lift you out of the pit of despair and inspire you to carry on.
Lifeline 13 11 14 for 24-hour crisis telephone counseling
Measure Up Australian Better Health Initiative - Evidence shows improving diet and physicaly fitness can help prevent or delay the onset of such chronic diseases
Measure Up and CKD KHA webpage in the 'For Patients' section
Medicine Line 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) Provides independent pharmacist advice (9am-6pm M-F) on prescriptions, over-the-counter, complementary (herbal/natural/vitamin/mineral) medicines
QUIT Ring 13 78 48 and ask for Quit Pack to be sent free of charge
Online kidney disease check health tool NHS UK website features range of health education tools
SANE Helpline 1800 18 SANE (7263)
Smokenders Australia Helpline 1800 021 000
Smoking, is it really that bad for you? Virtual Medical Centre WA
Suicide Call Back Service Free service that offers short to medium term support for people at risk of suicide - Referral Line 1300 659 467 staffed 10am to 8:30pm (EST) 7 days a week. If calling outside these hours, leave a message - a team member will contact you the next day. This number is not a crisis line. Click here for 24 hour support services

Think about organ donation and transplantation - The Gift of Life

Get the Facts USA website
Kidney Transplant Virtual Renal Centre WA - 3D animation on kidney transplantation
Kidney Transplantation in children GOSH - UK website Also in Arabic, Bengali, Greek, Turkish
Kids Kare Provides information on organ donation and organ transplants USA
Organ Donation and Transplantation KHA's area this site with loads of information
Play with Transplant Man Renal Support Network USA
Superhero yourself UK Transplant's online application where you create your own superhero
The Interactive Body: Organs and tissues for transplant 3D view of human organs and tissues

Young people like me with CKD

Diabeteskidsandteens DiabetesAustralia NSW - website for kids and teens with Diabetes 1
National Kidney Federation UK YPG Zone (Young Persons Group) run by young patients
NKF's YPG Zone UK website - Run by young patients for young patients (0-18 years and 18-40 years)
Siblings Australia Inc Support for brothers and sisters of people with special needs; including disability, chronic illness and mental health issues - Forums, workshops and other good programs.
YAP Space - Kidney Katz Kidney Health Australia's area for young adults 16 to 25 who want to chat online in a secure space - or post in the Forum. (Registration needed for YAP). If you prefer you can post a comment on our Kidney Blog.

Updated 1 September 2010

Disclaimer: This is intended as a general introduction to this topic and is not meant to substitute for your doctor's or health professional's advice. All care is taken to ensure the information is relevant and applicable to each Australian state. It should be noted Kidney Health Australia recognises each person's experience is individual and variations do occur in treatment and management due to personal circumstances. Should you require further info always consult your doctor or health professional.