Coles match funds raised by Wiradjuri artist's work for $80,000 for Purple House remote dialysis treatment

Jarred Cross Published August 4, 2025 at 3.15pm (AWST)

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Coles have donated $80,000 to Purple House. Pictured: Coles head of Indigenous Affairs Sara Stuart, Senior Pintupi man and Purple House director Bobby West Tjupurrula, Purple House ceo Sarah Brown (Image: supplied)

Coles have made a donation to help Indigenous Australians in remote areas with kidney disease be able to stay at home in community while receiving treatment.

Coles will match the nearly $40,000 raised through 50c taken from every sale of the homewares collection designed in partnership with Wiradjuri artist Lani Balzan, with a topped-up total of $80,000 going towards Indigenous-led dialysis and healthcare service Purple House.

Founded in 2000, Purple House began when more than $1million was raised out of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal art auction after identifying an urgent need.

With the money raised, the organisation worked to end the 'impossible choice' faced by some Pintupi people; 'leave their homes for dialysis treatment in Alice Springs or stay on Country without care', Purple House said.

Purple House opened their first dialysis unit in Kintore, over 10 hours drive west of Mparntwe (Alice Springs), in 2004. They've since grown to operate 20 remote units, and a mobile truck across the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.

Coles head of Indigenous Affairs Sara Stuart travelled to Mparntwe last week to present Purple House with the donation, she said "we know is directly going towards delivering life-saving healthcare to remote Indigenous communities".

"The impactful work that Purple House does is critical in helping close the healthcare gap and ensuring Indigenous Australians can receive the care they need while staying connected to their communities and Country," Ms Stuart said.

"Thank you to our customers that embraced the incredible Art by Lani homewares collection and helped make this donation possible as we continue our commitment to fostering long-term support for First Nations communities."

*Lani Blazan collaborated with Coles on the 'Coming Together' homewares collection which helped raise funds donated to Purple House. (Image: supplied)*

The collection hit the shelves for a month from last June, coinciding with NAIDOC week.

"I'm hoping that little things like this can make a difference in Closing the Gap and educating people on why we have NAIDOC, what it means to us and how important it is and getting involved and celebrating that as well," Ms Balzan told National Indigenous Times in June.

Since 2020, Coles has helped raise $220,000 for Purple House.