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PDF printable version of Reducing Kidney Disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (PDF 32 KB)

16 September 2011

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said a report released today illustrates why the Australian Government’s investment in improving kidney health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is so important.

“The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report confirmed that reducing kidney disease was a critical step in helping to Close the Gap in health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,” he said.

The report found that in 2007 and 2008, Indigenous Australians accounted for almost 10 per cent of new end stage kidney disease patients treated, although they made up only 2.5 per cent of the population. It also found that in 2008-09 the hospitalisation rate for dialysis treatment was 11 times higher amongst Indigenous Australians.

“While state and territory governments are responsible for renal dialysis services, the current Australian Government has invested heavily in new health infrastructure, better services for chronic disease patients, and preventive health measures,” Mr Snowdon said.

The Australian Government has committed up to $13 million to the NT Government for family accommodation in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek for Aboriginal patients receiving kidney treatment away from their home communities.

This follows the commissioning and delivery of the Central Australian Renal Study which provides a roadmap for Northern Territory, South Australian, Western Australian governments to start the important work of service planning within their jurisdictions to respond to the findings and recommendations within the report.

The Australian Government has made significant investments in this area, including almost $71 million in the following renal programs:

• $45.77 million for the expansion of renal infrastructure, dialysis and support services in regional Western Australia (Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, and Midwest)
• $14 million for the Northern Territory Renal Access Program which includes funding for Renal Ready Rooms, a mobile dialysis unit, and relocatable haemodialysis units in remote to very remote communities and drop-in self care renal facilities in Darwin and Alice Springs
• $8.6 million for the expansion of renal dialysis services in the Kimberley region
• $2.6 million since 2010-11 to the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Payantjaka Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation for renal services and renal patient support in Alice Springs (the Purple House), Kintore and Yuendumu and for support for their Return to Country programs

The Gillard Labor Government is providing $805.5 million through the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package (ICDP) to improve the prevention, early detection and ongoing management of chronic disease.

This includes a number of programs to help stop conditions such as kidney disease from developing, by reducing risk factors such as smoking, poor nutrition and lack of exercise.

Media contact - Minister Snowdon’s office: Alice Plate 02 6277 7820