What we do
Dialysis
When a person’s kidneys stop working, they can require haemodialysis treatment three times a week indefinitely. Purple House runs 19 remote dialysis clinics enabling people to get back to their country and family. It also offers respite and support while dialysing in Alice Springs or Darwin.
Purple Truck
The Purple Truck is a self-contained dialysis unit on wheels. It gives patients with end-stage renal failure the chance to return home for family, cultural or sorry business. Purple House now has two Purple Trucks, located in Central Australia and the Top End.
Social Support
For people from remote communities, moving to a regional centre like Alice Springs for dialysis is often a stressful and scary experience. They are far away from family and country, feeling sick and confused while having to navigate the health care system. Our Social Support ‘Malpas’ act as friends for dialysis patients and their families providing support and assistance.
Aged Care Services
Taking care of our old people the ‘right way’ is vital – through high quality services with a focus on cultural safety. Purple House provides non-residential aged care services to clients in Alice Springs, Yuendumu and Mt Liebig.
NDIS Services
Ensuring people living with a disability are empowered and supported to live their best life is at the heart of the Purple House model of care. The NDIS team provides high-quality services which are client centred and prioritise cultural safety.
Social Enterprise Hub
Purple House runs two social enterprises from the newly renovated space at 15 Lindsay Ave, East Side. These include our Bush Balm shop and the Purple Shed event space.
Primary Health Care
Purple House offers a general practitioner, podiatry and physiotherapy clinics each week for Purple House patients and their families, to identify, resolve and refer on health problems before they get more serious.
Return to Country
Purple House’s ‘Return to Country’ program helps patients to get home to their families and communities for short-term visits in between dialysis treatments, arranging their return to Alice Springs or Darwin in time for their next treatment.
Education
We love sharing our story and knowledge!
Purple House provides education to patients new to dialysis, support and advice to other healthcare services wanting to offer dialysis treatments, and shares its approaches to culturally safe care.
Bush Balms
Indigenous Australians have used native plants to treat illness for generations. This expert knowledge inspired the creation of the Bush Balm products. First produced by and for the growing number of Indigenous dialysis patients and their families, the Bush Balm social enterprise is based at Purple House, providing ongoing employment and development opportunities.
Patient Preceptors
Purple House employ 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. As strong advocates, 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.