Living well with gout
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples experience higher rates of gout than other Australians, and face more barriers accessing care.
Quick links
An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, aged roughly 30–60, in an everyday setting — at home, outdoors or at a community gathering. The tone is warm, relaxed and social, not clinical. Could be a moment of connection with family or community — sharing a meal, sitting together on a verandah, or a gentle activity like fishing or gardening.
These resources have been made with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to help you and your community understand and manage gout. You’ll find easy-to-understand guides, videos and tools — all shaped by community voices and health research. These resources have been designed to promote self-management, and support strong, healthy communities.
What is gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, intense pain. Some people describe it as feeling like walking on broken glass.
Gout happens when there is too much of a substance called uric acid in your body. Your body makes uric acid naturally when it breaks down certain foods and drinks. Usually, it passes out of your body in your urine (when you have a wee), but when there is too much, it forms tiny sharp crystals in the joints of your feet, ankles and knees. Those crystals are what cause the intense pain and swelling of a gout flare.
Gout can run in families, and certain foods, drinks and medicines can trigger a flare. The good news is that gout can be managed. With the right information and support, you can reduce flares and protect your joints.
More than one million Australians live with gout — you are not alone, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Watch: Gout explained
Watch Bailey and Auntie Liz talk through what gout is, what causes it, and why staying on top of your treatment matters.
Resources for you
What about gout? Fact sheet
Find out what gout is, what causes it, what triggers a flare-up, and what you can do to manage it.
Gout and diet fact sheet
Learn how food and drink can affect gout, get practical tips for healthy eating, and find out the truth behind common myths about diet and gout.
What about gout? Fact sheet
Taking Control of Your Gout Booklet
A detailed guide to help you understand gout and feel more confident managing it. Covers symptoms, treatment, lifestyle and more.
Resources for health workers and community organisation
Gout community toolkit
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience higher rates of gout than other Australians and often face more barriers to getting care. This toolkit was developed to help change that.
The Gout Community Toolkit was created in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It brings together community knowledge, lived experience and health research to provide resources that are culturally safe and easy to use — at home, in the clinic and in community.
How to use
- In community clinics and programs: Health professionals and support workers can use the toolkit as an educational tool to support shared decision-making, explain gout clearly and answer questions from community.
- At community gatherings: Use the toolkit at cultural events or community meetings to raise awareness and encourage healthy conversations about gout.
Community presentation
Ready-to-use slides you can present at community events, health sessions or group meetings to help people learn about gout and how to manage it.
Postcards
Print these postcards to hand out at community events, clinics or health services to raise awareness of the toolkit.
Digital assets
Social media tiles and digital materials to promote the toolkit through your networks online.
Artwork by: Wotjobaluk/Gunaikurnai artist Thomas ‘Marksey’ Marks. Click HERE to learn more about the artist and artwork.