Indigenous Reference Groups
What is an Indigenous Reference Group?
An Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) is a locally led advisory group made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members who have lived experience of kidney disease as either a patient, carer, family member, health worker, or cultural knowledge holder.
IRGs provide guidance, cultural leadership, lived experience and community perspectives to hospitals and health services. They help ensure kidney care and transplantation pathways are culturally safe, community-informed, and responsive to the needs of First Nations peoples.
IRGs can support:
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Better access to kidney transplantation
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Stronger partnerships between hospitals and communities
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Policies and services shaped by First Nations knowledge
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Safe, respectful, and culturally grounded care
Supporting Indigenous Reference Groups
Coordinating and expanding IRGs remains a key part of NIKTT's strategy to improve equitable access to kidney transplantation services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NIKTT can support community groups, hospital and health services to establish and sustain IRGs through strategic advice, community engagement support, and through sharing of resources.
Our recent article in the Medical Journal of Australia highlights how IRGs are already influencing positive change in transplant units, improving cultural safety and community trust.
If you already have an IRG or considering establishing one, we would be interested in hearing from you. Sharing your experiences help to strengthen the National Network and ensures that First Nations voices continue to shape kidney care across Australia.
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