‘Nothing about us, without us’: Professor Paul Lawton on First Nations Australians and kidney disease

NAIDOC week (July 3 to 10) celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

We are delighted that Professor Paul Lawton (Director of Renal Medicine) is presenting the CCS seminar on Fri 8 July as part of NAIDOC week. Other speakers will include the Panuku patient preceptor team. See below for more detail about the seminar.

This year’s theme Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! invites all of us to champion and drive institutional, structural and collaborative change while also acknowledging those who have driven positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities for generations. NAIDOC Week is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Paul joined the CCS in 2021 after working across the Northern Territory since 1999 as a consultant nephrologist, general physician and senior research fellow. He is a strong advocate for equity of access to treatment for First Nations Australians.

Paul’s clinical, policy, advocacy and research work has driven practical changes in the lives of First Nations Australian patients who are far more likely to develop end-stage kidney disease that requires treatment but far less likely to be able to access treatment options (including dialysis and transplant) close to home.

Using a collaborative approach that incorporates patient perspectives in health care design, his work has been able to facilitate service delivery changes to meet the requirements of users and provide accessible and responsive care. This has included systems to consolidate patient records and support primary health services with timely, targeted and evidence-based specialist care in the identification and management of people with kidney disease. 

Paul will share his experience from his work in both clinical and research contexts and provide insights on ‘Nothing about us, without us’. Other speakers will include the Panuku patient preceptor team.

Please join us for this special presentation. Details:

• Topic: "Kidney Transplantation for First Nations Australians: from ‘These sorts of people don’t do very well’ to ‘Hunting Transplants’ and ‘Return to Country’.”
• Time and day: 12 noon - 1.00 pm Friday 8 July 2022
• Venue
• Physical - Alfred Innovations Hub lecture theatre - note that OHS protocols are different in designated hospital areas from the Alfred Centre. Visitors are required to wear N95 masks unless eating, drinking, presenting or have a medical exemption.
• CCS seminar series Zoom link: https://monash.zoom.us/j/84157718177?pwd=SU4rK1hyUWNJQ0ZjMllTbW5CaUdhdz09
  

You can find out more about how you can join in NAIDOC activities around Monash and Melbourne:

• NAIDOC week activities at Monash University 
• Around town www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events and
• www.timeout.com/melbourne/things-to-do/naidoc-week-events-in-melbourne