Ms Duncan said she was regularly made aware of the special needs of people throughout her electorate and the particular needs of indigenous and regional dialysis patients for treatment near home and family.

“When people are unwell the last thing they want to do is to travel hundreds of kilometres from the support of family and friends to receive treatment,” Ms Duncan said.

She said she was pleased that Royalties for Regions will be supporting one program working towards addressing these needs.   Under the Western Desert Kidney Health Project, a team of indigenous healthy lifestyle workers, medical, community development and artistic practitioners, and indigenous health care service provider organizations will work to reduce disease and diabetes by 20 per cent in ten indigenous communities in the Western Desert Region.

The project’s chief investigator Dr Christine Jeffries-Stokes said the project’s aim would be achieved through the provision of culturally appropriate, clinical services and community engagement that taught people about the disease process, diet and lifestyle, and other social and environmental determinants.

“Two Healthy Lifestyle Trucks will transport the healthy lifestyle team addressing environmental, social and medical factors that cause chronic disease. The trucks are due for delivery early August however we are waiting to hear when funding for the aboriginal health workers will be available,” she said.

“It is important for everyone from all facets of communities to focus on prevention and detection of kidney disease as everyone, indigenous or otherwise, faces similar risk factors,” Dr Jeffries-Stokes said.

Ms Duncan said the State Government had signed up to a joint study into the delivery of treatment for kidney disease among indigenous people living in remote communities.

For information about Kidney Health Australia log onto www.kidney.org.au

For information about the Western Desert Kidney Health Project contact Dr Christine Jeffries-Stokes on 9091 0666