The Albanese Labor government is delivering on an election commitment to improve access to renal dialysis services, announcing three new renal dialysis units in remote Queensland and Western Australia.
The new dialysis units will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with severe kidney disease better access to lifesaving treatment, closer to home, family, community and Country.
As part of the Albanese Government’s $73.2 million investment in Better Renal Services for First Nations Peoples, $10.35 million in funding is being allocated under Round 2 of this measure to:
- Wakaid Tribal Council in partnership with Flinders University for Badu Island (Queensland)
- Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance for Tom Price (Western Australia); and
- Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Services for Wiluna (Western Australia).
Indigenous Australian adults are twice as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to have chronic kidney disease and almost four times as likely to die from the condition.
Dialysis is essential, lifesaving treatment for patients with end stage kidney disease, which can otherwise only be treated by kidney transplantation.
Providing dialysis treatment closer to a patient’s home increases the likelihood of regular treatment, continued support, and care which, in turn, help to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
The first round of renal dialysis units was announced in April 2023, with new infrastructure to be installed in six sites:
- South Australia—Coober Pedy and Yalata
- Western Australia— Balgo
- Northern Territory—Atitjere (Harts Range), Borroloola, and Ti-Tree
The Government’s $73.2 million in funding will support up to 30 dialysis units, including workforce accommodation, providing lifesaving health care to First Nations people with end-stage kidney disease.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McCarthy:
“Last month, we officially opened a new renal dialysis clinic in the remote outback town of Coober Pedy in South Australia.
“It was an emotional day for local people who up until now, have had to travel vast distances to get the lifesaving treatment they need.
“Today, I am pleased to announce the latest recipients of funding under the Albanese Government’s Better Renal Services for First Nations Peoples initiative.
“Dialysis saves lives. The new renal dialysis units in remote Queensland and Western Australia will help to reduce the distance patients have to travel to receive dialysis and ensure people receive the care they need while remaining on Country close to family and community.
“These units will make a significant difference to the lives of people needing dialysis and their families in Tom Price, Wiluna and Badu Island.”