Purple House has taken out the 2018 Northern Territory business of the year at the Telstra Business Awards. The Indigenous-led organisation provides education and life-saving treatment services to remote communities in the NT and WA. The business also took home the 2018 Telstra Northern Territory Social Change Maker Award.

Chronic kidney disease is one of the Northern Territory’s biggest health and social challenges, particularly among remote Indigenous populations. Via the Western Desert Dialysis Program, Purple House provides dialysis in fourteen remote clinics in addition to a ‘Purple Truck’ mobile dialysis service. 

The organisation also produces the Bush Balm range of rubs, soaps, moisturisers and lip balms using traditional indigenous remedies.

Purple House chief executive, Sarah Brown, said: “It is incredible recognition of a whole heap of hard work from people over many years”.

“They couldn’t get any government help at the time, so they painted some beautiful pictures, raise a million bucks in one night at the Art Gallery of NSW and set about developing a way of doing dialysis out bush and getting people home.”

The Telstra Northern Territory Business Awards judges said that Purple House is having a great social impact on regional communities. The organisation has “introduced a game changing model for dialysis services nationally”, identifying its use of diverse funding streams as a key strength.

“Not only do they support the community medically, they [also] assist in providing emotional support and help educate and bring awareness [of the importance of dialysis and kidney health] via their mobile dialysis service.”

In its 26th year, the Telstra Business Awards continue to showcase the achievements of Australia’s best small and medium businesses. Other winners at the 2018 Telstra Northern Territory Business Awards include:

• 2018 Telstra Northern Territory Emerging and Energised Business Award went to HK Holistic Health Klub, a five-star gym that provides its members with access to exercise, nutritional and rehabilitation advice.
• 2018 Telstra Northern Territory Small and Succeeding Business Award was won by True North Strategic Communication, a strategic communications consultancy with a history of working in the Territory.
• 2018 Telstra Northern Territory Medium and Making Waves Award winner Dreamedia Events is an event company that has created and produced major events across the Territory from Darwin to Uluru.

More from The Business Conversation:

Magpie Goose: Showcasing Aboriginal art, culture and stories through fashion

The WA spacer company scooping business awards with its simple and cost efficient product

Emily Slevin of Aussie Pooch Mobile is WA’s Franchise Woman of the Year