Our Story

Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjakt Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation

(formerly Western Desert Dialysis Appeal)

Our Story

I arrived here [Alice Springs Renal Unit] and have no way to leave this place. It's as if I'm in a deep valley and can't see the countryside. I feel claustrophobic. This big rock has hemmed me in and I'm claustrophobic. I don't know what to do . I was thinking, ‘Oh, when will some of my family come and see me?' Dialysis patient

Anangu like the open space of their land, where they can smell the Spirit, the wildflowers and other plants. They want fire for the smell of woodsmoke going through the air. They want to smell flowers after rain. Committee member

Frustrated with the treatment of their loved ones on dialysis and unable to get government support, people from the Western Desert banded together with the help of art collectors and dealers to organise the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal.

In 2000, people from the Western Desert painted pictures and held an auction at the Art Gallery of NSW. They raised over 1 million dollars to support patients in town and to set up dialysis out bush. Their aim was to return people to their country and families where they belong.

Amy Nampitjinpa went home to Kintore for dialysis in September 2004. This is the first and only remote dialysis machine in Central Australia and the Western Desert communities are justifiably proud of what they have achieved. They continue to care for their family members who have kidney disease, seek support for their work and share their story with other remote communities who battle with the same problems. They are also working to reduce the incidence of kidney disease in the hope that their children and grandchildren will not need this arduous treatment.

Our committee are keen to continue their work and to share their story with others. Through their hard work and determination they have set up dialysis services in arguably the most remote part of Australia . They also run a dialysis training house in Alice Springs and patient support services. People are healthier, surviving longer and more community members are seeking treatment earlier. We have managed to attract some government support, but there are still many gaps in funding that the committee are trying to fill.

And you can be a part of this story…

You can support the WESTERN DESERT NGANAMPA WALYTJA PALYANTJAKU TJU T AKU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION.

We are the non government organisation formed from the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal. Our name means ‘keeping all our families well'. We are a registered charity and all donations are tax deductible.

• You can ring us for our bank details to make a direct deposit or to eftpos a donation;
• Send a cheque or mail order to:WDNWPT, PO box 5060 , Alice Springs, NT 0871

If you think you can help or just want to talk more about what we are doing and how Anangu with kidney disease and their families are helping themselves, please contact:

Please contact us to be added to our mail out of the ‘Friends of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal' Newsletter.

Sarah Brown, Manager, WDNWPT, PO box 5060, Alice Springs, NT, 0871.
ph. (08) 8953 0002 email: wdnwpt@bigpond.net.au