We offer you a select range of publications on kidney related conditions and treatments. Each publication noted offers precise, up to date information on a wide range of kidney related conditions and treatments. 

To download publications available online, see links at the bottom of this page.

The Australian Dialysis Unit Guide (The DUG)
Find your local Dialysis Unit online - go to our DUG database

Our  'DUG' online is a resource which sets out the location and contact details for most public and private Australian Renal and Dialysis Units. It may be used for a number of purposes including referrals, relocation and short term stays. 

The DUG online will help you locate dialysis units, if you are considering registering on the Australian Holiday Dialysis Konnections Register. You can also find tips on planning a holiday while on haemodialysis as well as suggestions about medical information which Renal Units may need from you.

Kidney Health Australia - Health Publications

Moe's sick kidneys  (new book for children 4-8 years old )

Moe has sick kidneys and takes his friend Milko on an adventure to tell him what it’s like. Milko thinks Moe is very brave having sick kidneys, having his blood cleaned and taking care of himself.

This is a great story and activity book for kids who have sick kidneys and friends around them.

Moe’s sick kidneys is the result of a collaborative between Kidney Health Australia and the University of South Australia that was undertaken by two final year Occupational therapy students from the University of South Australia, Veronica Edwards and Catherine Tonks, as part of their final year studies.

Cost of book - $10 each (inc GST and postage)

Low potassium recipe book

This booklet and the easy to follow recipes in it were developed for people who need to control the amount of potassium in their diet, particularly those with kidney disease or those requiring haemodialysis, who have been advised by their doctor to follow a low potassium diet.

The authors would like to stress recommendations for renal diets vary widely between individuals - this recipe book is best used in conjunction with dietary advice from a dietitian experience in renal nutrition. Supported by unrestricted educational grant from Baxter Healthcare.

Cost of booklets - $15 each
Bulk orders (over 10 copies) $12 each 

Living with Kidney Failure (7th edition)

This book is designed an as informative resource for people with kidney failure, their families and carers. Kidney failure and Chronic Kidney Disease failure is a life changing event for those affected, and for their families and friends. Nothing is untouched by the words from your doctor "your kidneys are showing signs of failure and we need to talk about what that means".

This book does not cover all aspects of kidney failure; it should be regarded as an introduction. It is written to give those newly diagnosed with kidney failure an overview of what might lie ahead and how kidney disease will impact on their lives of those affected and their families.  It is written with an emphasis on getting on with 'living' despite having kidney failure.

Cost of booklets - $15 each
Bulk orders (over 10 copies) $12 each

Yesterday Today and Tomorrow
Personal accounts of people living with kidney failure

This is a wonderful collection of stories from people with kidney problems and their families gathered with love and care by Melissa Darnley.

This book has been many months in gestation but the stories and the messages contained in them are timeless.

Cost of booklets - $12 each
Bulk orders (over 10 copies) $10 each

Free Kidney Health Australia publications and advertorials

Living with Reduced Kidney Function
– A handbook for self-management of chronic kidney disease
For people who have recently been informed that they have reduced kidney function related to the early stages of chronic kidney disease

In this handbook you will find information about the normal functioning of your kidneys, about the first signs indicating that they may not be working properly and about what you can do to try and prevent further development of your kidney disease.

Download extra health record sheets from links below - to record ongoing treatment plans and other tools, when you need them. 

This handbook is available at no charge - many thanks also to Genzyme for providing an unrestricted educational grant to support development costs associated with the Australian edition of this publication. Limited stocks left.

The next 3 minutes could save your life! 
Click link or the image right, to access information on CKD

You can lose up to 90% of your kidney function and not even know about it! The next 3 minutes could save your life! Find out how to avoid being 1 of every 3 Australians who are at increased risk of developing CKD. 

Early detection of CKD is the most cost-effective way to tackle kidney disease. Targeting people at high risk of CKD will identify about 20% with undiagnosed CKD. About half of these will be at 'high risk' of progression or early cardiovascular disease.

Hyperphosphataemia Patient Booklet 
We are delighted to present this excellent publication written for kidney patients who have been diagnosed with high phosphate in their blood.

Phosphorus is a naturally occuring mineral which we get from the food we eat. Some food is very high in phosphorus like nuts, legumes e.g. beans, chick peas etc, cereals, grain and dairy produce.

Phosphorus is found in your body as ‘phosphate’ and is needed for building strong teeth and bones as well as keeping other parts of your body healthy. It is found in every cell in your body. When your kidneys fail to work, phosphate can build up in the blood. This build up of excess phosphate is called hyperphosphataemia.

Published by Shire Australia in collaboration with Kidney Health Australia. Download in several languages other than English *Arabic *Chinese *Italian *Greek  *Hindi *Urdu *Vietnamese

These files are quite large and may take time to open with Adobe Reader - but they will open. You can also ring our KHIS line 1800 4 KIDNEY (1800 4 543639) to order hard copies or electronic versions. Shire Australia has provided this information as a guide for patients. It is not intended to replace the advice of your health care professional. Should you require further information about hyperphosphataemia please consult with your doctor.

Other KHA publications and advertorials are:

*   Kidney Disease: Are you one in three?  (booklet)
*   Kidney Health - What you should know....  (booklet)
*   You're in Charge - self-management health book  (booklet)
*   Blood Pressure - Pfizer Australia Health Report No 29  (September 06 advertorial)
*   Healthy Kidneys - Pfizer Australia Health Report No 4  (September 04 advertorial)

Other publications of importance to those with Chronic Kidney Disease

Supportive Care for Kidney Disease  (click link here)  
This booklet has been developed to provide information for Australian patients, carers and their families about supportive care, so that you and those close to you are able to make an informed decision about your treatment and plan for the future. Subjects covered in this booklet are extensive and include:- Supportive Care of End Stage Kidney Disease, Kidney Disease Symptom Management and Palliative Care, Planning for your Future, Community Services. It is published by Sydney South West Area Health Service - Eastern Zone Renal Unit.

Bush Tucker in Kidney Failure and Diabetes
This publication is an innovative and very interesting guide, written especially for people with chronic kidney disease who wish to eat Indigenous foods.

It offers detailed dietary information for a selection of more common foods eaten in rural and remote regions of Australia.

This booklet is designed to assist the dietician and patient make appropriate choices. Hard copies are available from: Renal Resource Centre 1800 257 189. 

For composition of other foods a more complete reference see "Tables of Composition of Australian Aboriginal Foods" by Janette Brand Miller, Keith James and Patricia Maggiore 1993.

Kidney Health Discovery: The Kidneys  
This flipchart is an excellent education tool for Indigenous Health Workers and Indigenous Communities. It is in PDF format - donwloading the file may take a long time.  

National Renal Indigenous Resource Collaborative (NRIRC)
You can view other similar kidney health education resouces, approved by the newly formed NRIRC at our Indigenous Resources webpage. 

Kidney health professionals will  also be interested in information presented on our Rural and Remote Health webpage.

 SANE Guide to Good Mental Health: For people affected by kidney disease

Kidney Health Australia and SANE Australia have joined together to address the issue of mental health and kidney disease - 50% of Australians with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are affected by depression. SANE’s new ‘Mind and Body’ Initiative aims to draw attention to the physical health needs of people with a mental illness,  and mental health needs of people with chronic physical health problems. Encouraging treatment of the whole person.

SANE Guide to Good Mental Health: For people affected by kidney disease looks at mental health problems, treatment options and includes case studies of people who have experienced CKD first hand and how it impacted on their lives. CKD can affect every area of life. Relationships, work, spiritual beliefs and how we socialise with other people may all be affected. Many people have times where they struggle to cope, and may become anxious or depressed.

Cost of booklets - $10 each

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Order direct from www.lupusintus.com - cost $30A (delivery extra)

The review below of this book was kindly written by Melissa Darnley BA Dip Ed (Teach/Lib) - moderator of Yahoo Dialysis Buddies

"Terms such as ‘survivor’, ‘sufferer’, ‘resilient’ and ‘battler’ are often applied to people who have incredibly rich and full lives whilst managing a challenging chronic disease. Somehow these words are not enough to describe Suzanne Ferschl and the spirited life journey she is traveling on and has documented so honestly in her autobiography of living with the inflammatory autoimmune disease, Lupus.

I had mixed emotions when I first picked up this book with the large dark wolf and red butterfly on the cover. My first impression, as one of many others also with a chronic disease, was of empathy and sadness for Suzanne. I questioned whether I really needed to take on the burden of someone else’s suffering at this point in my life by reading this book and yet I wanted to know more about her and this disease,  

However, as you begin to turn the pages you feel thankful that she has equipped herself so courageously to ‘live every minute of every day’ with such an amazing spirit that leaves you unable to resist joining her and reading all of her journey to date. The book is written in two parts, the first is her story of growing, living, loving and surviving through many serious complications of Lupus. The second part is a diary of her medical history, along with some rather confronting pictures of her amputations, but together the two parts make for a very compelling read.

You need to listen to and accept the challenges Suzanne has faced and feel some of the emotions and pain that are part of what has made her who she is today.Then her story comes to you with such raw intensity and honesty, yet flows so effortlessly, that you are left at the end speechless at the inner strength and indomitable spirit of this woman. You feel strangely uplifted and it calls you to question your own courage and determination and to reassess whether you are living your own life well, regardless of the state of your own health.  

Kidney Health Information Service (KHIS line)  
For the hearing impaired, use TTY/Voice 133 677  |  Speak & Listen (SSR) 1300 555 727