Rural and Remote Health - Education and Health Resources
See below information on 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 known as the National Renal Indigenous Resource Collaborative (NRIRC) to pool and share existing education resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In this review 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). This initiative 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 gives an overview of the key recources identified via the review process outlined above. Also refer to the support page Indigenous CKD Stats which provides a CKD data snapshot for Indigenous Australians.
Kidney Health Australia - Kidney Health Education Forum 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 full features of Vodcast or you may login here.
 Vodcast No 1
Kidney Disease and Nutrition – Getting the most out of what you can eat
Register to access 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.
Note: Some websites or your individual computer settings require you to install ActiveX controls to view this site or perform certain tasks. When you visit such a site Internet Explorer asks if you want to install ActiveX control. (Look for yellow info bar at top of page and allow ActiveX control to work on our website).
 Bush Tucker in Kidney Failure and Diabetes
This book is an innovative and interesting diet and nutrition guide written especially for people with CKD who enjoy Indigenous foods - which highlights 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
Australian Government Better Health Initiative In conjunction with Measure Up
Tomorrow People booklet (PDF 2328kb) highly recommended.
Excellent website on 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. Measure Up 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 Measure Up and CKD and related pages Measure Up with healthy eating I Measure Up with physical activity I Measure Up and wellness
 Kidney Health Discovery: The Kidneys
This well designed education flipchart was 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.
Note - this resource is large and may take some time to download. To order use our Resource Order Form or email info@kidney.org.au
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
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. Noteable sections are:
Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
Indigenous Allied Health Australia
A website for all Indigenous allied health professionals and students wishing to network or share information and ideas - check out this website.
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council
KAMSC (Aboriginal organisation, controlled by Aboriginals, for Aboriginal people) have produced an extensive range of 'kidney' health education resources which are high quality and cover a range of issues.
Ring 08 9193 6043 to make contact, fax 08 9192 2500 or kamsc@kamsc.org.au
Management of Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Remote Australia
The National Service Guidelines (2006) published by NT Government on 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
The Cancer Care Education Program 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 the Better Health Centre General Publication Form to 02 9816 0492.
Videos may contain names, images and voices of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people who may now be deceased
 This innovative program aims to encourage young Indigenous Australians to make better and healthier food choices particularly in regard to drinking adequate amounts of water daily instead of sweet sugar laden fizzy drinks and also to promote the importance of eating more fruit and vegetables, as snacks, rather than choosing “junk” foods. Education surrounding healthy food options in remote areas is intrinsically linked to longer life expectancy for Indigenous communities. Healthy eating has a direct co-relation to the incidence of kidney failure which is destroying families and communities accounting for at least one in three Indigenous deaths.
Uncle Jimmy Little and his Thumbs Up team have been travelling around a few Arnhem land communities ( see locations) hosting music and video workshops as part of a healthy food campaign.
Message from Mandawuy Yunupingu - Keep your kidneys healthy! 
Mundawuy is the lead singer of Yothu Yindi, Mandawuy Yunupingu (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, 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.
View Mandawuy's Australian Story on ABC-TV 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 Stories about dialysis and kidney disease
Movie produced by Ronin Films Classification: Exempt - Ronin Recommends: PG
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 are cultural as well as emotional. 'Big Girls Don't Cry is broken into three sections - look for curator's and education notes.
Produced originally in 2002, the spirit in these stories does not date. These short stories present 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. This is a very moving film, and the strength of women – Essie Coffey of the Muruwari clan, Mariah Swan of the Kamilaroi clan, Glenda Kerinaiau of the Tiwi clan – who lived with, and continue to live with, renal disease touches your heart.
Good news on Indigenous kids health NHMRC Podcast: Interview with Dr Elisabeth Hodson
Each year the 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 kids.
Rural Health Education Foundation Online broadcasts on chronic disease management
Register with the RHE Foundation's website and follow prompts www.rhef.com.au
Other interesting broadcasts chronic disease management and other lifestyle issues.
Updated 16 August 2010
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