RSA eNews - CommuniquePlus April 2021

RSA Board of Directors: Call for nominations and EOI closes Thursday, 22 April

In accordance with the RSA's Constitution, three opportunities exist to join the Board as follows: i) Elected Director, ii) Casual Vacancy and iii) External Director.

Please take a moment to consider nominating (Elected Director) or submitting an EOI (Casual Vacancy/External Director), for these important roles OR encourage someone you think might become a valuable board member, to nominate or submit an EOI.

Further information...

2021 RSA Awards - LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE!

Is there a fellow RSA member that you think should be recognised for their tireless contribution to advance the care of people with kidney disease?

If your answer is yes, then nominate them for one - or more - of the RSA award categories:  

• RSA Award - This prestigious award is given to an RSA member who exemplifies the values and mission of the RSA and having made an outstanding contribution and commitment to the RSA and renal community.
   
• Branch Awards - To acknowledge the significant contribution of an RSA member at the local / regional level.
   
• Clinical Excellence Award – A clinician or health practitioner who advocates for the patient in all aspects of care, with recognition for their mastery of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, professionalism, and humanism.
   
• Education Excellence Award - An individual educator who performs to a high standard in educating others and upholding the virtue of quality care for people with kidney disease.
   
• Practice Advancement Award – An RSA member's innovative solutions, practices, or initiatives through contributing to or leading research, study, or project. 

Nominating a colleague has never been easier! Complete the online nomination form for the relevant award category.

Nominations close at 5.00pm AEST on Monday, 19 April 2021.

Further information...

RSA Member Survey - Gift Card Recipients

Congratulations to Samara Sarmiento (WA) and Melissa Stollery (VIC) as the recipients of the $50 VISA gift card. 

Sincere thanks to all those RSA members who took the time to complete the survey.  We appreciate both your feedback and support.    The results of this survey will help evolve and strengthen the RSA for today, tomorrow and beyond!

2021 RSA Annual Conference - Early Bird Closing Soon!

Reduced RSA Annual Conference registration fees are one of your many RSA member benefits. So, if you have not had time to register for this year’s RSA Annual Conference: “Renal care beyond a crisis: Possibilities and future directions”, this is your last chance to register as an early bird for either an in-person or online registration and make the most of your RSA membership.

Early bird registration closes Wednesday, 14 April.

Register now

The RSA Annual Conference Dinner is always a highlight of the conference, and this year's dinner is no exception with the promise of fine food, wine and lots of dancing.   

Purchase your dinner ticket now or at the time of registering.

Registration & dinner tickets HERE...

Program HERE...

The 2021 RSA Annual Conference - Your Conference

RSA Calendar of Events - April/May 2021

Webinar: SA/NT Branch Education Event 

Date:  Thursday, 22 April 2021
Duration:  6.00pm - 8.00pm  ACST / 6.30pm - 8.30pm AEST / 8.30pm - 10.30pm NZST

Host & Q&A Facilitator:  Penny Clough, RSA SA/NT Branch Chair

Presenters:
Brian Farmer, Renal Complex Care Co-ordinator CNARTS
Topic:  Kanggawoodi Project: Setting up a satellite dialysis unit within an Aboriginal Hostel

Dr Shilpa Jesudason, Senior Nephrologist, CNARTS
Topic: Fertility & Pregnancy in Dialysis & Transplant Patients

Learning Objectives:

• Using conventional treatments in new ways
• Standard satellite dialysis in a hostel setting
• Fertility in young people on dialysis and with transplant

Registation Fees:
RSA Members - FREE of Charge 
Non-Members - AU$15.00 (Inc GST)

Not a RSA member?  Not a problem.  Join now!

CPD:  2 hours

RSA wish to thank our corporate sponsor for their generosity in supporting this event:

Webinar: ADPKD / PKD Webinar

Date:  Thursday, 29 April 2021
Duration:  6.30pm - 8.00pm AEST/ 8.30pm - 10.00pm NZST

Host:  Robert Gardos - Board Chair, PKD Australia
Presenters:  Professor Andrew Mallett  & Janice Creenaune

Program Outline:

ADPKD in 2021 – how we got here, what we have done, and what is on the horizon. This webinar is proudly sponsored by Otsuka Australia Pharmaceutical and PKD Australia

Registation Fee:
RSA Members - FREE of Charge 
Non-Members - AU$15.00 (Inc GST)

Not a RSA member?  Not a problem.  Join now!

CPD:  1 hour

RSA wish to thank our corporate sponsor for their generosity in supporting this event:

RSA Calendar of Events - Available here

RSA QLD Branch Fundraising - Get involved and purchase your Entertainment Memberships

2020 Entertainment memberships are coming close to expiring and once again the RSA QLD Branch are selling new Entertainment memberships books.

These books contain plenty of discounts for takeaway, dining, activities, travel, accommodation and much more.

Plus... 20% of funds of all memberships sold go to the Renal Society of Australasia, so it is a great fundraiser.

Prices remain the same as last year with Single city editions selling for $70 and multi city Aust/NZ edition for $120. Simply scan the barcode on the flyer to make your purchase.

Further information and flyer...

RSA YOUng is the new kid on the block! We are a group of young renal nurses who are focused on inspiring, supporting and empowering future nephrology nurses to become clinical leaders.   We are keen to find new members and mentors for our group. 

If you were born in 1980 or later and are interested in being a part of this group, please send a short expression of interest email to execofficer@renalsociety.org.

If you were born in 1979 or earlier and are keen to mentor the next generation of renal nurses, please email Lenny.jacoby@sjog.org.au.

Lenny Jacoby
Chair, RSA YOUng 

RSA Nephrology Educators Network (NEN) Special Interest Group (SIG) 

We were pleased to hold our first meeting of the year in February to discuss current opportunities and ideas surrounding nursing education. The 15 members that attended conferred about the RSA  NEN SIG Discussion Forum and Journal Club and how we can best utilise these to support the learning needs of our teams. We are keen to continue to promote the use of the WCEA app not only to complete a huge variety of learning resources but also as a method of recording those activities.

We have some great ideas we are looking at pursuing this year – the first being the ISO UF survey being led by the Queensland team – the results of implementation of this nursing staff survey will guide our ability to share this with further states.

Of course, if you are involved in nursing education and wish to join the RSA Nephrology Educators Network (NEN) Special Interest Group (SIG) please email your EOI to execofficer@renalsociety.org.

Best wishes Angela Henson (Chair) and Allison Brown (Secretary)
RSA NEN SIG

Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) National Conference - Thats a Wrap!

I was fortunate enough to attend the ACNP conference and promote the RSA at the same time. It was great to attend a face to face conference finally. Learning becomes interactive without that delay and competing for airtime. The networking opportunities during and after hours are also invaluable with a lot of future opportunities developed. It was so good to see fellow nephrology NPs and to listen to Barb Harvie’s presentation summarizing the Nephrology NPs journey!

The gala celebration was almost as good as the RSA nights with the theme being Super hero’s - NPs. 

Can’t wait for the RSA conference!

Leanne Brown
RSA Co Vice President

Kidney Health Australia - Latest Update

KHA webinars are available for free and suitable for Health Professionals. You can also access past webinars here.

New Evidence Report reveals over half of all kidney failure cases in Australia caused by diabetes and hypertension.

Kidney Health Australia has launched an Evidence Report detailing the extent of kidney disease in Australia, and its strong links with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  

The report, ‘Make the Link - Kidneys, Diabetes and Heart’ was released on World Kidney Health Day on March 11. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

During these uncertain and difficult times, Kidney Health New Zealand are working with the New Zealand medical community and partners to provide latest COVID-19 information.

Kidney patients organisations, kidney doctors, nurses and tranplant teams around the world support the COVID-19 vaccine for people living with kidney disease.  Click here to read the main reasons why.

KHNZ COVID-19 vaccine information poster...

KHNZ COVID-19 website page...

Please take a moment....   CommuniquePlus readers are asked to take a moment to read the sponsor message below.  The RSA could not provide the educational opportunities we do without the support of our sponsors.  This is our opportunity to support them, so please read the message below and click through to more information on the PHILIPS website.   Thank you.

WCEA 24-7 Online Learning Platform

Latest upload includes:

• RSA Webinar – Shared Decision Making for the Patient with Advanced Liver Disease.  Presenter - Dr Leanne Brown

If you have an education topic suggestion and would like to volunteer to present a webinar or other format on this topic, then we want to hear from you!   Please contact the office and tell us about your suggestion.

Warm regards

Debbie Fortnum
RSA Co-Vice President Education/Member Engagement

WCEA - FREE ACCESS TO RSA MEMBERS

CARI Guidelines Update

The new CARI website is available here.

EDTNA/ERCA Update

The EDTNA/ERCA 49th Conference - 4-7 September will be held as a virtual conference in view of the ongoing pandemic, particularly  in Europe. The theme is: “Knowledge, Skills and Commitment - Core Elements to Manage Care.” Although online, this provides an excellent learning opportunity.

EDTNA/ERCA is also proud to present our new strategy for  “Green Excellence in Dialysis”, this will be a sub-topic at the conference. Follow the Green Dialysis Project Group’s progress on the website. This includes the webinar Green Excellence in Dialysis which is available to watch on the website and through YouTube.

I have resigned from the BA position and am hoping that an RSA member will take up the challenge. You do not have to have been a member of EDTNA/ERCA to join – just join up and apply! This is a great global networking opportunity and I really hope someone will take it up.

As I am heading back to WA my contact details have changed. I can now be reached on lynnbrown.at321@gmail.com

With best regards

Lynn Brown
EDTNA/ERCA Brand Ambassador for Australia and New Zealand.

What is the Arrangement with Universities for Discounted Study?

The RSA continually searches for value-add benefits for members and is willing to consider and evaluate partnering with recognised educational organisations who can offer members a learning opportunity.

For example The University of Tasmania (UTas) and the Renal Society of Australasia (RSA) have partnered to offer postgraduate nursing study on a UTas funded scholarship basis to RSA members who live in Australia.

Specialisations available to RSA members under this scholarship are: 

• Renal Nursing
• Leadership in Practice (Semester 1 entry only)

UTas scholarship information...