Kidney Support Network (KSN) understands the value of strong communities for those who are affected by kidney disease. As a result, one of the service strategies we have is to encourage the development of support services throughout Queensland.
Our support services are informal resources that provide social support and helpful spaces for people who are impacted by Kidney Disease. The aim is to give each other moral support, useful tips, hints and practical advice and share our kidney journeys.
To find out about the current active support groups and support service-points please check the table, or email us at [email protected].
If there is no support group currently operating in your local area, why not start one! We are available to help you in any way needed to get your new group up and running and we will provide you with ongoing advice and support. Contact 1800 358 797 to find out more!
Volunteering with KSN – we are always looking for more volunteers to help our Support Groups to help kidney patients.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is generally more prevalent in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) population than in the non-indigenous population. The statistics are serious, with everyone of the ATSI community currently being 'at risk' of kidney disease, and the risk of having chronic kidney disease increases with age. Currently within the ATSI community evidence suggests that 97% of those over 55 years old have reported as having at least one long-term health condition. However chronic kidney disease can potentially develop at any age. The most common cause of kidney disease for ATSI patients is diabetes (high blood sugar).
The ATSI population are at a higher risk of developing CKD due to various lifestyle choices and medical conditions. These include increasing age, low birth weight & infant malnutrition, adult weight gain, signs of syndrome X (increasing blood pressure, insulin, blood glucose, and lipid levels), skin infections, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, excessive intake of alcohol, repeated pregnancies, family history of CKD and smoking.
Mortality rate is also much higher among the ATSI population and statistics have indicated that the morality rate for ATSI women is three times higher than for ATSI men. High mortality is partly linked with the high rate of withdrawals from treatment by patients due to personal challenges. Some of the common challenges includes attending cultural duties, distance from treatment, not finding suitable housing, changing social circumstances and communication problems.
Information & resources that addresses the needs of the ATSI community.
The Kidney Support Network acknowledges the traditional owners of country, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We respect their cultures and elders, past and present.
The Childhood Kidney Support Network (CKSN) aims to enhance the lifestyle, health and wellbeing of children and young adults who have Kidney Disease. The CKSN also provides peer support for parents of Kidney Kids.
Having your child diagnosed with Kidney Disease can be a very isolating and frightening experience. Talking and sharing your experiences with others who also have a child with Kidney Disease can provide great support, reassurance and help ease the situation.
As well as our support programs and services, CKSN offers parents, children, teenagers and young adults a network of contacts who understand the 'kidney journey'.
CKSN is run entirely by Volunteers and funds raised are used for our programs and services.
CKSN provides opportunities for parents and families to share their experiences relating to their child's 'kidney journey', and offers support and advice on how to live a full and active life despite Kidney Disease. We also have a visit program where a CKSN volunteer can visit parents and children, on request of the parents, while at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital.
Our Kidney Kids Program includes our 'I'm an Awesome Kidney Kid!' Teddy Bear and soft throw rugs and quilts for when children are having treatments in Hospital. We also have an awesome Kidney Kids Christmas Party every year where every child receives a gift. These and other events are a welcome distraction from dialysis, constant hospital admissions, medications and doctors' appointments. It also reduces the isolation children, and parents, may feel when diagnosed with a chronic illness. They are excited to be a part of the Kidney Kids family!
CKSNs' Resource Library is a FREE service providing families access to a variety of books, brochures, booklets and information regarding Kidney Disease in children.
Our active Parent Facebook group is a closed group. The group is based on peer-support principles, where parents can share experiences, offer support, advice and ask questions.
Our Ambassadors and Mentors are young adults, teenagers and children who are eager and happy to connect and share their 'Kidney Journey' and experiences with others. Talking to others who are going through the same experiences can be a much needed opportunity to share stories and information, emotional issues and receive and provide support.
Kidney Support Network (KSN) has revitalised its Patient Accommodation business model and has now partnered with Isla House at Annerley and Greenslopes.
This is one of our early partnership successes as a new Committee and will assist KSN to support and guide patient accommodation needs. Isla House PA is adjacent to the Princess Alexandra Hospital (pictured) and Isla House Greenslopes is near the Greenslopes Private Hospital.
Isla (i-la) House in Brisbane is a privately owned accommodation facility providing a range of short and long-term accommodation rooms and suites for patients attending hospitals in Brisbane.
Isla House PA is directly across the road from the PA Hospital (opposite PA Emergency entrance in Cornwall Street) and Isla House Greenslopes is close to the Greenslopes Private Hospital (cnr Juliette and Bunya Streets). Both facilities are only minutes from the Brisbane Central Business District and public transport options.
Accommodation ranges from well-presented and comfortable self-contained private rooms, interconnecting rooms for families (Isla PA) and well-appointed shared facilities accommodation (Isla Greenslopes), including amazing common areas and gardens to create a homely community feel.
Isla House management can provide transport for patients with their mini bus and they provide regular social activities for their visitors. A truly connected and welcoming environment for patients and families needing to be away from their homes.
Remember, accommodation referrals via the Kidney Support Network (KSN) raises valuable revenue to support services for Kidney Patients.
We will soon officially launch this partnership and are keen to hear from Volunteers in the Brisbane area who may be able to assist KSN and Isla House with patient transport, reception and administrative services and to help with Isla House patient social events such as BBQs. Please contact us on E: [email protected] or Free call: 1800 358 797 if you're interested in this volunteering opportunity.
As part of our support services, Kidney Support Network (KSN) offers an information booklet about Kidney Disease, treatment options, and, tips on dealing with various health and lifestyle issues. These booklets are designed to give answers to some of the commonly asked questions. It is encouraged that you seek advice from your GP if there are specific issues that concern you. If you wish to receive a physical copy of the booklet, feel free to contact us on : 07 3855 9781. Below are the booklets provided by KSN.
All About You – High Blood Pressure: Provides information especially for those with high blood pressure.
Time to take some health measures?: Contains simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of Chronic disease and maintain a healthier life.
Live kidney donation is a gift by choice and not by chance.
It is a gift of a normal functioning kidney from one living human being to another.
Live kidney donation is usually charged with lots of emotion. Giving an organ to enhance another persons life is a momentous event!
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is quite a common kidney disease in which cysts (fluid filled sacs) are formed in the kidneys.
PKD is a hereditary disease and hence a family disease. It affects both kidneys although one may be affected earlier than the other and/or more than the other.
Nashville, Tennessee USA: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nephrologist and Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr William H. Fissell IV, is making major progress on a first-of-its kind device to free kidney patients from dialysis.
He is building an Implantable Artificial Kidney with microchip filters and living kidney cells that will be powered by a patient's own heart.
"We are creating a bio-hybrid device that can mimic a kidney to remove enough waste products, salt and water to keep a patient off dialysis," said Fissell.
Dr Fissell says the goal is to make it small enough, roughly the size of a soda can, to be implanted inside a patient's body.
An international team of researchers has developed a new algorithm that could one day help scientists reprogram cells to plug any kind of gap in the human body.
The computer code model, called Mogrify, is designed to make the process of creating pluripotent stem cells much quicker and more straightforward than ever before.
A pluripotent stem cell is one that has the potential to become any type of specialised cell in the body: eye tissue, or a neural cell, or cells to build a heart. In theory, that would open up the potential for doctors to regrow limbs, make organs to order, and patch up the human body in all kinds of ways that aren't currently possible.
The Kidney Support Network can provide speakers to community groups who are seeking information about Kidney Disease.
Why have a presentation about Kidney Disease?
Community speakers can inspire your group members to improve their kidney health. This is vital considering that 1 in 3 adults over the age of twenty-five are 'at risk' of Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia.
To book a speaker or express your interest in having a speaker present, please contact our Head Office on 1800 358 797.
The presentation material has been developed for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your health care provider if you have, or suspect you have, a health problem.