THE NAKED TRUTH: INDIGENOUS KIDNEY FACTS  

• In some remote communities kidney failure is 30-50 times the national average

• Overall indigenous kidney failure is eight to ten times that of non-indigenous Australians

• 50% of sufferers live in regions with no facilities:

                   ·   There are two types of treatment for kidney failure: Peritoneal Dialysis [PD] which must usually be done four times every day and Haemodyalisis [HD] which must be done over a five hour period, three times per week    
                   ·    Many Indigenous people have to leave their family and communities and travel hundreds, sometimes thousands, of kilometres to access dialysis machines to stay alive

• Indigenous people account for 10% of dialysis patients even though they only represent 2% of the national population

• From 1990 to 2010, the number of Indigenous Australians starting treatment each year for kidney failure will increase more than six times over, compared to non-indigenous numbers which will double

• Life expectancy for indigenous Australians is 17 years less than for non-indigenous Australians

• There is an especially heavy burden of diabetes among indigenous Australians, particularly in remote communities

• Kidney failure is one of the most serious complications of diabetes

• More than 80% of indigenous Australians commencing treatment for kidney failure have diabetes

• The causes of chronic disease include poverty and social disadvantage, poor living conditions, poor housing, poor access to affordable, healthy food, reduced access to screening and early intervention services and low birth weight. Alcohol is not responsible for kidney failure

• The leading cause of hospitalisation for Indigenous Australians is “care involving dialysis” — responsible for almost 40% of hospital admissions for Indigenous Australians

• The survival rate five years after a transplant for indigenous people is about 60% compared to non-indigenous about 90%

In 2010, the number of Indigenous Australians starting dialysis will increase between 19% and 84% above the current incidence.


The Jimmy Little Foundation acknowledges the traditional lands and it’s owners and the contribution of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia both past, present and future. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images of people who have passed away. The Jimmy Little Foundation constantly endeavours to ensure that information appearing in this site is correct at the time of collation, but accepts no responsibility for any mistakes, inaccuracies or mis-descriptions, whether by inclusion or omission and whether negligent or otherwise.