Kidney Health Australia Media and Press Releases
Keep updated on events in our local kidney community - hot off the press!

For more information regarding our media releases, please contact our Communications Coordinator, Alison Hickerson on 03 9674 4313 or email alison.hickerson@kidney.org.au

30 January 2012 - Kidney sector highlighted in Australia Day Honours

Australia Day Honours have been bestowed upon three recipients for their services to Kidney Health Australia and the kidney sector. Kidney Health Australia is proud to announce that its National Medical Director, Associate Professor Tim Mathew, has been honoured as a recipient of an AM General Division Order of Australia as has our National Consumer Council Chair, Mr David Parker.  A former Director of the KHA Board, Mr Jack Le Cras, was also awarded the Medal OAM of the Order of Australia General Division, for services to the community and to Kidney Health Australia.  Read full media here>

16 January 2012 - Organ donation record high in 2011-12

Kidney Health Australia welcomes the Australian Government announcement that Australia reached its highest number of organ donations in 2011, with more than 1000 lives saved or dramatically improved as a result of organ transplants. More than 75 per cent of people waiting for organ donation require a kidney transplant, according to the latest official figures. Media>

12 December 2011 - Geelong patient in Australian medical first!

An in‐home dialysis trial that has potential to significantly improve the lifestyle of dialysis patients around Australia will be conducted in Geelong this week. The trial will be conducted by leading Nephrologist, Professor John Agar and Rosemary Simmonds, Clinical Coordinator of Home Haemodialysis at Geelong Hospital. The new dialysis machine will allow patients to be dialysed from home, but will also give them the opportunity to travel and be on dialysis using their own 'portable' system for the first time.  Media>

6 December 2011 -  NSW Goverment initiative to increase organ donation

KHA CEO Anne Wilson commended the NSW Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner on her initiative, describing the “Increasing Organ Donation in NSW” discussion paper released today as a brave and genuine attempt to keep an open mind about ways to lift the number of organ transplants. Media>

7 November 2011 - Dialysis patients take a holiday in Busselton WA

Kidney Health Australia and Lotterywest provided a much-needed holiday for kidney patients in Busselton who are reliant on dialysis treatment.with 17 families participating in the 13th Annual Henry Giblett Holiday Dialysis Program. Holidays are ordinarily off the agenda for patients suffering with renal failure because of their reliance on dialysis. This holiday allows the patients and their families to discover the south-west coast, when ordinarily they are unable to venture very far away from their base where treatment is available.  Media>

20 October 2011 - Organ donation rise in Australia is welcomed

Kidney Health Australia welcomed the rise in official organ donation and transplantation outcomes which are at the highest levels since national records began.  Media>

14 October 2011 - Extraordinary story of courage celebrated at the BIG RED WALK in Western Australia

Read a touching story of friendship and courage round live kidney organ donation and the BIG RED WALK, held at Kings Park, Sunday October 16 2011. Family and friends of donors walked to celebrate and help raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and organ donation.  Media>

15 September 2011 - Walk with Rebecca in Darwin for final kilometre of her journey, Mt Gambier to Darwin

Rebecca Baker asked supporters to walk with her for the last kilometre of her 3,500km journey to raise awareness about kidney disease. The 21 year old arrived in Darwin on September 19, having walked about 35km each day since she left Mt Gambier, Sth Australia on May 2. Rebecca was welcomed by Deputy Lord Mayor Garry Lambert outside Darwin City Council Civic Centre.  Media>

4 August 2011 - Kidney Kar Rally to promote Kidney Health Checks - 12 to 20 August 2011

The 2011 Kidney Kar Rally participants tackled a 4,000 km course in a unique fundraising experience for Kidney Health Australia. Money raised helps support our National Kidney Kids Program.  Media>

4 August 2011 - Amazing Race winner Tyler Atkins promotes kidney disease research

Amazing Race winner, Tyler Atkins, signed up to receive phone services from charity telco provider KHA Comms, that directs all profits to Kidney Health Australia. After winning the first series of The Amazing Race Australia, Tyler and team-mate Nathan Joliffe relaxed in Bali to keep the outcome a secret. Tyler, who has a kidney related disease, described KHAComms service, with over 1000 users now as a “tremendous innovation” to enable him help others with kidney disease while talking on his phone.  Media>

18 July 2011 - Nearly half of Aussie women fail Sex Health-101

Survey released today by Kidney Health Australia and Cranberry Institute reveals Australian women are unaware of basic health recommendations after sex in order to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI) - the common and often reoccurring condition.  Media>

28 June 2011 - Kidney Health Australia welcomes report looking at  Kidney Disease in Central Australia

This report released yesterday has far-reaching implications for all remotely based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  Media>  and Summary and report here>

17 June 2011 - Sinister link between kidney disease and diabetes epidemic exposed

Kidney Health Australia called for kidney screening to be made a high priority for those with type 2 diabetes in the wake of a major study which found 1,800 lives could be saved through earlier diagnosis and treatment to avoid end-stage kidney disease. Media> or read Two of a KinD (Kidneys in Diabetes) summary report>

20 May 2011 -  Kidney Health Week 2011:  It's time for some decent exposure!

The Kidney Health Week 2011 theme highlights “kidney disease can and does go undetected and unrecognised in the Australian adult population. One in three Australians is at increased risk of developing the disease, while one in nine Australians over the age of 25 years has at least one clinical sign of CKD.”  Media>

20 May 2011 - A 10 minute Kidney Health Check could save your life - Armadale, Western Australia

Free kidney health checks for all ages during Kidney Health Week 2011 - Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital is urging the community to take 10 minutes for an easy kidney health check that could save a life. Checking for kidney disease should be as routine as getting a cholesterol check-up.  Media>

20 May 2011 - Kingaroy renal nurses expose their red undies! - Kidney Health Week QLD

Kingaroy renal nurses raised awareness for kidney disease on May 24 when they joined the spirit of Kidney Health Australia’s Red Undies Week to check blood pressure of locals in Kingaroy, Queensland. Media>

20 May 2011 - Wimmera Health forum to raise awareness on kidney disease

To mark Kidney Health Week, the East Wimmera Health Service, in partnership with Kidney Health Australia, will hold an important public health forum on May 26 - Are your Kidneys at Risk of Failing?  Media>

10 May 2011 - Kidney Health Australia welcomes dialysis funding

Australia’s most remote regions in Western Australia will have better access to renal dialysis following an announcement to expand services in this region, by the Federal Government.  Media>

21 April 2011 - Childhood kidney disease highlighted in new creative endeavour - Kidney Kidnections

Inspirational and beautiful book of real life stories of Australian children with kidney disease and their families, published by graphic designer author Simone Eyles. Kidney Kidnections. Simone shares the experiences of what it is like to have a child diagnosed with kidney disease and how families continue to function and cope with a chronic illness. Media>

18 March 2011 - Kidney Census reveals patients need to know more about dialysis

The Consumer Perspectives on Dialysis: First National Census - conducted by Kidney Health Australia reveals patients facing dialysis need a greater understanding of choices available to them.  Media>

10 March 2011 - World Kidney Day - Protect your Kidneys to save your Heart!

A simple kidney health check could save both your kidneys and your heart. Kidney disease increases the risk of a heart problem for people with diabetes and hypertension and is also a strong independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in otherwise healthy people.  Media>

5 November 2010 -  Kidney Health Australia predicts treating serious kidney disease will cost the health system $12b over the next decade  Media here>

If  more patients were using home dialysis, it would save our health system about $30,000 a year per patient. Home dialysis is better for patients and many people in rural and regional Australia and Aboriginal communities are not given the option of home dialysis. There is a lack of home dialysis training and neither Federal Government nor state Government are receptive to home dialysis, or the needs of kidney patients.  Refer to the Economic Impact of End-Stage Kidney Disease in Australia - Projections to 2020 Executive Summary or full report.