Role
The Better Renal Services Steering Committee oversees the Better Renal Services for First Nations Peoples Budget measure. Under the measure, the Australian Government has invested $73.2 million for:
- up to 30 4‑chair dialysis units
- workforce accommodation where required.
This measure will provide life-saving health care to First Nations Australians with end-stage kidney disease.
The committee will advise on site locations for dialysis units through shared decision‑making. This will ensure that implementing the measure focuses on communities of largest need.
The committee also advises us and the Minister for Health and Aged Care on renal dialysis matters. These include the:
- changes needed to make the delivery of renal services sustainable in remote and regional locations
- strategic issues affecting the delivery of renal services in the sector, such as accommodation, workforce, and service delivery.
Members
In line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the committee will include Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation representatives and other stakeholders.
| Member | Background and experience |
|---|---|
| Jason Agostino (Co‑chair) | Medical Advisor, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
| Ben Mudaliar (Co‑chair) | Assistant Secretary, Family, Chronic Disease and Preventative Health Branch, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Joanne Badke | Chief Executive Officer, Tullawon Health Service |
| Sarah Brown | Chief Executive Officer, Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (Purple House) |
| Professor Christine Connors | Chief Health Officer Public Health Division NT Health |
| Doctor Helen Van Gessel | Executive Director Clinical Excellence, WA Country Health Service |
| Professor Jaquelyne Hughes | Nephrologist and Clinical Research Professor, Flinders University College of Medicine, and Public Health Deputy Chair, National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce |
| Professor Stephen McDonald | Director of Dialysis and Senior Staff Nephrologist, Central Northern Renal and Transplantation Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital Clinical Director, Renal Services for the Country Health SA Local Health Network Executive Officer, Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry Chair, National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce |
| Rob McPhee | Chief Executive Officer of Danila Dilba Health Service NT |
| Vicki O’Donnell | Chief Executive Officer, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Chair, Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia |
| Dr Kathryne Panaretto | Public Health Physician, Queensland Health |
| Rochelle Pitt | Nurse Navigator, Metro South Queensland Health |
Meetings
The Better Renal Services Steering Committee will meet approximately once every 2 months, or as needed.
Communiques
Better Renal Services Steering Committee – Communiques
Resources
We are funding 30 dialysis units to provide life-saving health care for First Nations Australians with kidney disease. Communities are invited to self-identify dialysis need by completing this expression of interest form. For more information you can read our fact sheet.
In March 2024, there was a public webinar on the Community Dialysis Unit Expression of Interest process. The webinar covers the community expression of interest form – developed to support communities to self-report dialysis need. The information will help the committee identify locations that might receive a dialysis unit. Find out more about the webinar.
Renal facility design guidelines have been developed to inform the infrastructure builds of the renal dialysis units under the Better Renal Services for First Nations People Budget Measure.
Contact
