Purpose: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ culture is integral to health and wellbeing; this includes
access to traditional Country, maintenance of kinship relationships, to speak traditional language and
participate in cultural practices. Most clients commencing dialysis in remote Australia, including the
Northern Australia region, identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal people
who need kidney replacement therapy and are physically fit to access home dialysis report additional
health and cultural benefits beyond achieved dialysis adequacy. This study aimed, within the setting of
local COVID-19 pandemic preparations and response phases, to design and pilot a physical frailty
assessment tool to inform the support needs of physically frail adults in the Northern Territory of Australia
after starting haemodialysis