Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology

 

Get Involved 

The work of the Society depends upon the commitment of its Members, who contribute freely their time, skills and expertise to the Society. 

There are lots of ways you can make a difference to kidney health through your involvement with the ANZSN:

If your time is limited, there are other ways you can be involved:

If you would like any information or assistance, please contact the ANZSN Office on anzsn@nephrology.edu.au.

 

Current Opportunities

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) - ANZSN Green Nephrology Action Team - EXTENDED - Now Closes 22 January 2020

The ANZSN Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from Ordinary Members with experience or an interest in environmental sustainability to be appointed to the Green Nephrology Action Team (GNAT). Please click here for more details.  

An Environmental Survey of Dialysis Practice in Australia and New Zealand

The Green Nephrology Action Team (GNAT) of the ANZSN, in conjunction with The George Institute for Global Health and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), is conducting a survey examining environmental practice across dialysis units in Australia and New Zealand. 
The survey provides an important opportunity to establish a baseline for environmental sustainability in kidney healthcare in ANZ, and from there, to improve the environmental profile of the care that we deliver.
There was unanimous support for conducting the survey from attendees at DNT this year and there is also international interest in replicating the survey in other countries. 
A link to the survey has been sent to all Heads of Units for them to distribute to relevant people in each of their dialysis facilities. Please help us by completing it! 
Please direct all enquiries (including requests for the link to the survey if your unit has not received it) to Ben Talbot at btalbot@georgeinstitute.org.au.

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) - ANZSN Finance and Investment Committee - Closes 7 February 2020

The ANZSN Council invites Ordinary or Life Members, with finance expertise and experience, to submit an Expression of Interest to join the newly created Finance and Investment Committee. To be chaired by the Honorary Treasurer, the Committee will advise Council on the effective stewardship of the ANZSN’s financial resources in furtherance of the Society’s Objects. Please click here for more details. Terms of Reference can be found here. 

Comment on the draft report and recommendations prepared by the Kidney Transplant Working Group

In 2018 Council established the Kidney Transplant Working Group to provide advice on practical strategies to promote and support best practice in kidney transplantation.
Drawing on a survey of ANZSN members, the KTWG has prepared a draft report and set of recommendations for consideration by Council. Prior to finalising its response, Council invites ANZSN Members to review and comment on the report and recommendations.
You can access the draft report here. Feedback to the ANZSN Office (anzsn@nephrology.edu.au) by 1 February would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Dr Doris Chan and Dr William Majoni (Co-Chairs) and members of the KTWG Working Group for their work in preparing the report. 

National Strategic Action Plan for Kidney Disease - Competitive Grant Opportunity Closing 13 February

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to provide optimal care and support for patients, families and carers of those with kidney disease, health professional education and improve research and data on kidney disease.

The grant aligns with the priorities and actions outlined in the National Strategic Action Plan for Kidney Disease (the Action Plan). It is anticipated that the Action Plan will be released in March 2020. A draft of the Action Plan is available on Kidney Health Australia’s website.

Information on the grant opportunity can be found here. 

Renal Biopsy Survey

The result of this survey, which will take around 10 minutes to complete, will help understand renal biopsy practices including indications for biopsy, technical aspects and clinical safety precautions in Australia and New Zealand. 

The survey, which has ethics approval, is being undertaken by Dr Joseph Burke and Assoc Prof Dwarakanathan Ranganathan at the Kidney Health Service, MNHHS, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. All enquiries can be forwarded to dwarakanathan.ranganathan@health.qld.gov.au. 

Please take part by following this link to the survey.

Polyomavirus (BK) Survey

Polyomavirus (BK) is a major cause of allograft loss after kidney transplantation. The increasing prevalence of BK viraemia and nephropathy in the recent years has been attributed to the use of potent immunosuppression. Currently, various strategies have been developed for BK viraemia and nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients, but practices are highly variable between individual clinicians, within and between centres. In addition, the evidence supporting the treatment decisions are poor and limited only to observational studies. 

We are interested in conducting a multi-centre randomised controlled trial to define the optimal strategies for the treatment of BK viraemia and nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients. 

Obtaining feedback from you regarding your current practices would be vital for the design of this trial. We would appreciate your taking the time to complete the following survey. Your responses are voluntary and will be confidential. Responses will not be identified by individual. All responses will be compiled together and analysed as a group. 

It should take about five minutes of your time.  Please see link below.           

https://sydneypublichealth.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5PYG3u4PP37cu9 

Germaine Wong and the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN) team