Patient Preceptors
Purple House employs a team of Patient Preceptors, people who have lived experience of the renal disease journey and can provide expert advice and reassurance to Aboriginal renal patients. Predominately based at Panuku in Darwin, our Patient Preceptors service communities such as Lajamanu, Yirrkala and Angurugu on Groote Eylandt.
In 2019, our Patient Preceptors launched a first-of-its-kind report Our work is for our people at Share a Tale, Purple House’s conference in Alice Springs.
The report, which was supported by the Northern Territory Government through an Aboriginal Workforce Development grant, provides a roadmap for the work of being a Patient Preceptor, helping new patients on their renal journey to navigate the health system.
“No matter where they come from, we help them. It’s more than doctors and nurses. It’s so much more that. We try and exchange culture,” says Patient Preceptor Lachlan Ross.
What is a patient preceptor?
1. A renal patient preceptor is an Aboriginal person who has lived experience of the renal disease journey and can provide expert advice and reassurance to Aboriginal renal patients.
2. Preceptors have a passion for helping their people, supporting, educating and mentoring Aboriginal individuals, families and communities to undertake the renal disease journey with knowledge, empowerment, dignity and hope.
3. Preceptors have a commitment to improving the renal health care system through advocacy.
4. Preceptors are skilled intercultural communicators, able to work both ways and assist both Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people to communicate effectively and to develop and manage relationships which assist in high quality culturally appropriate renal care.