RSA eNews - CommuniquePlus June 2021

RSA 2021 Annual General Meeting (Virtual Attendee only)

Members of the Renal Society of Australasia are cordially invited to the virtual 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) where members will be updated on the Society's activities and outcomes for 2020-2021.   

Date:  Friday, 18 June 2021

TIme:  10:00am - 10:30am AEST

Further information including registration...

Sigma Announces 2021 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Honoree - Professor Ann Bonner

RSA congratulates Professor Anne Bonner for being announced as a 2021 International Nurse Researchers Hall of Fame Honoree!

Full announcement available here...

Postgraduate Nursing Pathway - Semester 2 2021

The University of Tasmania and the RSA have once again partnered together to offer a range of diploma and postgraduate qualification scholarships to eligible members of the RSA.

Postgraduate Nursing Pathway here...

University of SA needs to hear from Renal Clinicians working in the area of Chronic Kidney Disease

Please complete a short survey (approximately 15 mins) and let UniSA know your thoughts on the Assessment and Management of Dyspnoea in CKD.

Survey here...

RSA 2020/21 Annual Report

RSA 2020/21 Annual Report...

RSA Member Survey - YOUR Feedback

Our review of the February/March 2021 RSA member survey continues.  This month we look at what members rated as the Top 6 member services provided by the RSA:

1.  RSA Journal
2.  Webinars
3.  Website
4.  CommuniquePlus and eblasts
5.  WCEA
6.  Virtual Branch Symposiums

2021 RSA Annual Conference Goes Virtual!

As you would expect the RSA has been closely monitoring the COVID situation in Victoria: With more than 300 Melbourne exposure sites, new cases being reported in Victoria and some states closing their borders it is becoming increasingly obvious that the RSA 2021 Annual Conference cannot continue as a hybrid event.

Therefore, the RSA 2021 Organising Committee and RSA Board in consultation with the Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) have made the difficult decision to convert this conference to a totally virtual online conference experience.

Just to reiterate, the RSA 2021 Annual Conference will not be cancelled or postponed. It will be a virtual event. The good news is you can still register for this fully virtual online conference experience. The advantage of the virtual conference is that you can watch all presentations live, or in your own time after the event, allowing you to watch every single presentation at a time that suits you. Workshops will also be broadcast online.

Speakers are being contacted to reaffirm their commitment to a virtual event and therefore maintaining the quality and integrity of the existing program. An updated program will be released soon.

Not registered, not a problem, you can register here.

The 2021 RSA Annual Conference - Your Conference

RSA Calendar of Events - July 2021

Webinar: SHPA & RSA Webinar:  CKD: an Overview of Initial Diagnosis, Management and Treatment

Date:  Wednesday, 7 July 2021
Duration:  1:00pm - 2:00pm (AEST)

Presenters:  Jess Lloyd & Dr Leanne Brown

Program Objective:

• Outline the diagnosis and management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Describe the role of medications in the management of CKD
• Explain the importance of patient education and collaborative goal setting in CKD management

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

Face to face : RSA Vascular Access Workshop - NSW

Date:  Saturday, 24 July 2021
Duration:  9:00am - 4:00pm (AEST)

Host:  Yanella Martinez-Smith

Program Overview:   

Designed for nurses and health professionals working in hemodialysis or with an interest in vascular access, this one day workshop will cover;

• Vascular access assessment
• Practical hands-on ultrasound scanning techniques
• Real time ultrasound-guided cannulation
• Tips for dialysis access care and management

Registation Fee:
RSA Members - Early Bird - $120.00 (Closes 24 June 2021)
RSA Members - Standard - $195.00 
Non-Members - $295.00

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

CPD:  5.5 hours

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

RSA Calendar of Events - Available here

RSA Nephrology Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Special Interest Group (SIG)

The RSA Nephrology Nurse Practitioner (NNP) SIG was formed in early 2020, but had an unexpected hiatus during COVID and we have been meeting third monthly since late 2020.  The purpose of this group was to provide education, support, and networking opportunities, and to promote issues that are specific to NNP roles such as mentoring and collaboration with research.

Our meetings have included some interesting speakers from NPs, including Cassie Stone NNP in CKD, Bettina Douglas NNP updating us on the NMBA NP standards and Dan Fowler NP Nurse Navigator talking about his role in rheumatic heart disease.

There is currently a lot going on behind the scenes with two groups working on 1) an application for NNP S100 prescribing, and 2) a NNP and advanced practice nurses education workshop.  

The PBS application for NP prescribing of Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESAs) is taking shape and we are hoping to distribute the draft document to the larger group, for comment and input, at our next meeting. 

Planning for the NP/Advance Practice workshop is well underway with an impressive line-up of speakers agreeing to participate.  We hope to finalise the location and venue soon, but this will be event not to miss!

We plan to continue with third monthly meetings which will include 20-30 minutes of education followed by the agenda directed meeting.

RSA members who are also Nephrology Nurse Practitioners would be most welcome to join this important RSA SIG.  To join, simply email your EOI to execofficer@renalsociety.org.

Veronica Oliver
Chair, RSA Nephrology Nurse Practitioner SIG

PEAK - Latest News

The KHA PEAK committee meet every 4 months and have representatives from pharmacy, GPs, nephrologist, RSA, primary health care nurses, consumers and KHA employees.

The committee provides advice to Kidney Health Australia’s Primary Care Education Program on best practice management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and clinical or pharmacological developments in kidney disease:

• Assist with developing appropriate messaging to health professionals 
• Assist in developing educational strategies for primary care education and appropriate education materials 
• To generally help progress the management of kidney disease in primary care by informing our work and development of resources. 
• To facilitate the broadening of scope to focus on the links between kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes 

A new document recently released – “Make the Link Kidneys, Diabetes and Heart”

 Kidney Health Australia evidence report has been reviewed by the committee.  The committee is also involved in developing and supporting regular webinars. 

The other notable achievement over the last 12 months was the release of the CKD management in primary care handbook.

Leanne Brown
RSA Vice President & PEAK Committee Member

Kidney Health Australia -  Latest Update

Kidney Health Australia are pleased to announce that they have recently awarded their 2021 research grants on the topic of Preventing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Kidney Health Australia received strong interest for their 2021 funding round topic ‘Preventing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease’, with twenty-one high quality applications received. Funding was offered to the top three applications:

• A/Prof Greg Tesch, Monash University - Therapeutic targeting of cellular senescence to prevent progression of chronic kidney disease
• Dr Helen MacLaughlin, Queensland University of Technology - Slowing kidney disease with weight loss: a randomised controlled feasibility study
• A/Prof Xin-Ming Chen, The University of Sydney - Stem cell-derived exosomes prevent the progress of chronic kidney disease

Further information...

Health Professional Webinar - Tuesday, 22 June 2021 from 7:00pm (AEST)

This month's Health Professional webinar topic is 'Decision making & symptom control in kidney failure', presented by Prof Robyn Langham, Nephrologist.

Free to register, national, recorded, 1-hour session.

Further information...

Kidney Health New Zealand - Latest Update

Kidney Health New Zealand have been busy this month with the following items available on their website:

• COVID Vaccine personal experiences - 3 videos launched
• A link to the Karawhiua campaign update
• Information on the launch of the navigational tool, #CatchOn. This community-led app is to aid the process of making an informed decision on the national vaccination roll-out to defend against COVID-19. With thanks to Le Va

Kidney Health New Zealand website...

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

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 CARI website is available here.

EDTNA/ERCA - THE RSA NEEDS YOU!

The RSA are looking for a very special person to take on the very exciting and interesting role of EDTNA/ERCA Brand Ambassador for Australia and New Zealand.

The key criteria for this role is that you must be a current RSA member and most importantly enjoy global networking and travel because the Brand Ambassador is supported to attend the EDTNA/ERCA conference!

You DO NOT need to have been OR be an EDTNA/ERCA member.   You can simply join up when you take on the Brand Ambassador role.

Does that sound like you?   If yes, please email your expression of interest to execofficer@renalsociety.org.

Is there a special interest group for supportive care?

Yes there is and they are looking for more members.  Please email execofficer@renalsociety.org  if you are interested in joining this group. Our full lists of special interest groups can be found here. 

More information...