The National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce is inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with lived experience of kidney disease and transplantation to help shape a proposed Community-led Governance Council.

The National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce (NIKTT) was established to improve access to kidney transplants for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, through advocacy and collaborative action.

After five years of NIKTT work alongside Community, clinicians, and governments, attention is now turning to how this work continues in the future, the Taskforce said on Tuesday.

The Taskforce said that while its next phase is "still being defined", what is clear is that its direction must be guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with lived experience. As such, NIKTT is proposing a future governance model that will be led by a Governance Council made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney disease and transplant experience, to guide work undertaken in partnership with governments, health systems, and communities.

The proposed model is intended to support the implementation of Priority Area 2 of the National Strategy for Organ Donation, Retrieval and Transplantation, which focuses on equitable access to transplantation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for people living in rural, regional and remote areas.

NIKTT said it is working with communities to co-design a governance structure that can be put forward to governments and funders as a clear, Community-led approach to progressing transplant equity.

NIKTT Community Engagement Officer, a Kaurna, Nharungga, and Ngarrindjeri women with lived experience of kidney transplantation, said the Taskforce sees the draft governance model as "one practical way to give effect to Priority Area 2 of the National Strategy".

"While funding for this next phase is not yet secured, it's critical that any proposal we take forward to government reflects what Community wants and how Community wants this work to be done," she said.

There is currently no funding to establish the proposed Governance Council. NIKTT is seeking community guidance now so that any future proposal to government is "grounded in a model designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with lived experience".

A series of online yarning sessions will be held in February and March 2026, with participants reimbursed for their time and contributions. People can choose a session time that suits them and will receive draft documents ahead of the session to review and reflect on becoming coming together to yarn.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney disease or transplant experience, and their families or carers, are encouraged to get in touch and register for a session.

People interested in registering for an online yarning session or who have questions should email [email protected]. Once a time is confirmed, participants will be sent the draft documents and meeting details.

Session dates and times:

• Thu, 19 Feb 2026 | 2-3 pm (SA Time)

• Mon, 23 Feb 2026 | 12-1 pm (SA Time)

• Wed, 25 Feb 2026 | 11 am-12 pm (SA Time)

• Thu, 26 Feb 2026 | 1-2 pm (SA Time)

• Mon, 2 Mar 2026 | 10-11 am (SA Time)

• Wed, 4 Mar 2026 | 11 am-12 pm (SA Time)

• Tue, 10 Mar 2026 | 11 am-12 pm (SA Time)

• Wed, 18 Mar 2026 | 11 am-12 pm (SA Time)