RSA eNews - CommuniquePlus November 2021

Message from the President

While we may not “officially” celebrate Thanksgiving Day in Australia and New Zealand, I have been reflecting on my personal journey at the RSA and how grateful I feel to be part of the RSA community - a community to learn from, collaborate with and grow professionally alongside.

The RSA is YOUR professional community. Without your continued support and dedication over the last 49 years, the RSA would not be what we are today.

As the year draws to an end, we have a number of reasons to celebrate the RSA community:

Thank you to all those who helped grow our community through the Refer a Friend Initiative which wrapped up last month
Thank you and congratulations to members who received their 10 years and 25 years service lapels at the recent Tasmania Branch Symposium: this is a new way in which the RSA is acknowledging member loyalty and contribution to our community and will be rolled out across all branches in the coming months to honour members’commitment to the RSA!
Thank you to the RSA YOUng for agreeing to close off the 2021 events calendar with the inaugural RSA Young Symposia on Thursday 9 December: you are the future leaders of the RSA! I encourage everyone to join in this online event and support our presenters.

2022 is not far off, and in the coming weeks you will receive more information how the RSA will continue to support your professional needs… including the Annual Conference in Darwin in June.

Until next time. Stay safe.

Regards

Jon Hosking
President

Read in browser

Refer a Friend Initiative ! And the winner is ....

We are delighted with the strong response to the “Refer a Friend” initiative and a big thank you to everyone who got behind this campaign.

Congratulations Susan Robertson (SA) who is the winner of the $50 gift card.

If you know someone who could benefit from being involved with out community, encourage them to get involved and they can join online here.

Tasmania Comes Together and Celebrates Long Term Members

The Tasmanian branch hosted their Branch Symposium on Saturday 13 November. The symposium featured a diverse group of presenters from a range of backgrounds including nursing, psychology and social work.

This in person event was also an opportunity to celebrate the commitment of long serving members of the RSA. Eight members were awarded with the RSA Lapel Pins for long term service and commitment to Renal Care.

25 years service

Dorte Goodger
Melinda Hay
Rose Mace
Lisa Shelverton

10 years service

Carol Chadwick
Jennifer Reynolds
Patricia Shires
Joanne Wilkinson

Congratulations to you all and thank you for your continued support and commitment.

Renal Nursing Workforce Survey - Have Your Say !

Researchers at the University of South Australia are conducting a survey to understand the sustainability of the renal nursing workforce in Australia and New Zealand. Your response will help inform strategies to strengthen the renal workforce and sustain it into the future.

Complete the Survey

Baxter PD Academy

The ANZ PD Academy is a two- day academic course designed to help renal clinicians develop a sound knowledge of the principles of PD.

PD Academy will be delivered as a virtual event. Given the current situation with boarder closures and COVID, it is impossible to bring the delegates together for a face to face conference. As the program is completely virtual, there is opportunity to live stream the program, enabling an opportunity to open this up to more delegates.

PD Academy will be held on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 November 2021. If you require more information about this course, please contact Michelle White michelle_white@baxter.com or register through the link below.

2021 RSA Events

In 2022, we’re reaching for the top – in the Top End!

For the 2022 RSA Annual Conference, we’re heading to Darwin!

Join us from 16 - 18 June 2022 at the Darwin Convention Centre – a world class venue and iconic landmark on the Darwin Harbour .

Our last face to face conference was in 2019 - it’s now time to come together; re-connect, share knowledge, and enjoy a spectacular part of Australia! With the fantastic travel deals on at the moment, it’s a perfect time to book your flights and even stay a while longer.

From the glistening harbour to the city's Asian-influenced food and tropical outdoor lifestyle, Darwin is an adventurers' paradise. Take a sunset harbour cruise, a scenic flight through the wetland or get up close and personal with crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove.

The one thing you won’t want to miss is the Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Only open Thursday nights and Sundays – we’ve specifically kept the evening of Thursday 16 June free so you can explore this iconic market and soak up the glorious sunset.

Need more inspiration to join us? This video says it all!

Save the Date: 16-18 June 2022

RSA Vascular Access Workshop - Perth (in-person only)

Date: Saturday, 25 November 2021
Duration: 9.00am - 4.00pm AWST
Location: Royal Perth Hospital, Victoria Square, Perth WA

This workshop is proudly sponsored by Medtronic

RSA Anaemia Management in CKD Workshop - Sydney (in-person only)

Date: Thursday, 2 December 2021
Duration: 9.00am - 1.00pm AEDT
Location: The Fraternity Club, Fair Meadow, NSW

This workshop is proudly sponsored by Amgen (platinum) and AstraZeneca (silver)

Renal Nursing: A YOUng Prespective

Date: Thursday, 9 December 2021
Duration: 5.00pm - 6.30pm AEDT

This online symposium is proudly sponsored by Baxter Healthcare.

RSA Calendar of Events - Available here

Renal Community Calendar - Available here

RSA Branches, SIGs & Committee Representation - Latest News

Calling All Nephrology Educators

Do you work as a clinical educator?
Would you like to collaborate and share ideas and experiences with other educators across Australia and New Zealand?
Would you help inform the future educational focus for the RSA?

The Nephrology Educators Network (NEN) is a special interest group (SIG) of the Renal Society of Australia, focused on those who provide health care professional education.

The NEN connect and collaborate through an online forum and also meet three times a year.

Alison Brown and Angela Henson

More Information and Get Involved

Key Stakeholder and Partner Updates

SAVE THE DATE - Kidney Health Week 2022

We are pleased to announce that Kidney Health Week will be taking place from 7 - 13 March 2022, coinciding with World Kidney Day on the 10 March.
We are busy planning a full week of activities and events for you and your patients to take part in.

The theme of World Kidney Day is 'Kidney Health for All' and we are embracing this theme for our week. Mark it in your diaries!

Register Now

Kidney Health New Zealand

Kidney Health New Zealand Support Groups

Kidney Health New Zealand have a number of social media support groups, a space for patients to connect with and talk to each other regardless of geographical location and/or lockdown restrictions.

Our Facebook groups are designed for individuals, families and carers.

For more information, click on the link below or email info@kidney.health.nz

Find out more

Education

RSA Member 24-7 Online Learning with WCEA

RSA members will be able to access - via the desktop or app - the following new material:

Journal Club: Individual versus group chronic kidney disease education

As a member of the RSA you are pre-registered to access this learning platform, and will be allocated a unique login by WCEA. Your WCEA username will start with RSAxxxxx - not your email address.

Discover more about the WCEA online learning

Frequently Asked Questions?

How could I find new career opportunities in Renal Care? How can I post a job ad?

The RSA have a dedicated page on the website which features a range of positions vacant across Australia and New Zealand. Currently there are two roles being advertised

Nurse (Treatment Support Consultant) - Part time, Sydney - metropolitan and surrounding suburbs
Clinical Nurse Educator - Renal Unit - Wagga Wagga

The webiste is updated regularly so check in regularly for your next caerer move. If you are looking to fill a position, you can post a job ad on th website as well.

View Positions Available

More Resources

ISN - ACT - (Advanced Clinical Trials)

The ISN-ACT (Advancing Clinical Trials) team presents this monthly round up of randomized trials in nephrology. Trials are selected not just for impact, but also to showcase the diversity of research produced by the global nephrology community. Each trial is reviewed in context and has a risk of bias assessment.

View Latest Summaries

Australian Nephrology Research Review

The latest edition of the Australian Nephrology Research Review is now availble. This Review features key medical articles from global nephrology journals with commentary from Professor Vlado Perkovic and Dr Brendan Smyth. Some of the works featured in this edition include:

Responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in haemodialysis patients
Antibody response to BNT162b2 vaccine in patients undergoing haemodialysis
Effects of dapagliflozin in stage 4 CKD
Diagnosing subclinical rejection in kidney transplant recipients
Impact of religious or spiritual beliefs on end-of-life care preferences

View Latest Review

Australian Nephrology Nurse Practitioners study

The project, Australian Nephrology Nurse Practitioners 2021: Professional and Practice Profile, has received approval from Griffith University (reference number: 2021/593).

The research team - Ann Bonner, Leanne Brown, Bettina Douglas, Barb Harvie, Melinda Tomkins, Anthony Lucas, and Kerri Gillespie - are seeking nurse practitioners as well as NP students/candidates to complete a short online audit. The audit aims to profile the current NNP working across Australia, and to explore their current roles, scope of practice, and activities.

To find out more about this study and to complete the audit, please click on the link below. Or copy and paste the URL below into your Internet browser: https://prodsurvey.rcs.griffith.edu.au/prodls200/index.php/165148?lang=en

If you would like more information about this study, please contact Kerri Gillespie - E: kerri.gillespie@outlook.com or T: 0405302321.

Complete the audit

Understanding nurse's practices and attitudes towards sexual dysfunction in people with end stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis

RSA member and MPhil candidate at Griffith University, Amanda Mckie invites you to take part in an online study. The aim of this study is to understand nursing practices and attitudes towards sexual dysfunction in people receiving haemodialysis, this study has received ethical approval from Griffith University (reference number: 2021/470).

Your feedback is important and will help Griffith University continue to improve their work and understanding of this topic. This survey should only take 10 to 15 minutes of your time.
For any questions, or if you need assistance to complete this questionnaire, please contact Amanda Mckie at Griffith University amanda.mckie@griffithuni.edu.au or Ph: 0401 316 452

Complete the survey

Invitation to participate in a research study

RSA Member and PhD Candidate at CQUniveristy, Marina Cousins invites you take part in a research study. The aim is to understand the relationship and the strategies that nephrology nurses use to maintain a long-term professional HD nurse-patient relationship.

If you are interested, it will involve a 30-45 minute interview in person (COVID-19 dependent), or via telephone / a video platform (Skype, Zoom) at a mutually convenient date, time, and location. This study has been approved by CQUniversity Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number 0000022873).

Want to know more? Please contact Marina Cousins - E: m.cousins@cqu.edu.au; T: 07 4923 2041.

Find out more about this study and check your eligibility

Next Issue - RSA CommuniquePlus

Have you got news you want to share with the RSA community? Please submit your contribution to Savio D'sa, Executive Officer at execofficer@renalsociety.org.

Stay Connected with the RSA

Advancing the care of people with kidney disease

About Us Contact Us Update Your Details Online Learning

View Online | Unsubscribe