Holiday dialysis with the Big Red Kidney Bus
Holidays and work trips can be out of reach when you’re on dialysis. There is a solution. Kidney Health Australia offers dialysis consumers from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand the opportunity to book free dialysis sessions on the Big Red Kidney Bus while located at holiday parks in scenic destinations in NSW and Victoria. Read on to find out more about this unique service.
Holidaying with the Big Red Kidney Bus
We have two Big Red Kidney Buses travelling to coastal and regional destinations in NSW and Victoria every year, staying at holiday parks for four to six weeks at a time. Each Bus features three comfortable dialysis chairs with individual entertainment systems and wheelchair access. With three morning and three evening sessions available from Monday to Saturday on each bus, haemodialysis consumers can book a trip away with family and friends while maintaining their regular in-centre dialysis routine.
The NEW Gold Coast Bus will begin by offering one morning dialysis session, 3 days a week, with the hope to expand the sessions to the remaining days.
Thanks to the generous support of our partners at Monash Health (Victoria), Royal North Shore Hospital (NSW), and Gold Coast Hospital (QLD), visitors can take comfort in knowing they’ll be cared for by highly experienced and caring dialysis nurses when on board.
All dialysis sessions on the Bus are free of charge and there is no limitation on the number of sessions that can be booked allowing visitors to book for a week or four weeks should they wish! However, visitors need to organise and pay for their own accommodation and transport to and from the Bus destination.
Book Now Download the Bus brochure2024 Destinations
Download our 2024 Destination brochure:
2024 Bus Location BrochureCelebrating 10 years of the Big Red Kidney Bus at Parliament of Victoria
Almost to the date 10 years ago, the first Big Red Kidney Bus proudly launched its inaugural holiday dialysis service at Parliament of Victoria in 2014. On Tuesday 10 September 2024, the Bus returned to Parliament House to celebrate the milestone achievement of 10 years of service in Victoria, in partnership with Monash Health. The Bus caused a stir as it drove up and parked on the grounds outside the grand venue just as it had done a decade ago.
This innovative service was the brainchild of Vince Tripodi, a dialysis patient from Gippsland. His vision was for a mobile unit offering dialysis patients treatment beyond the confines of their local hospital, thus inevitably leading to an improvement of their overall health and wellbeing. The 10th year anniversary celebration of the Big Red Kidney Bus was enjoyed by several founding family members of the Mobile Kidney Dialysis group and supporters of Vince’s dream. They were joined by parliamentarians, including Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, clinical partners Monash Health, and members of the patient community, including Billy the Kidney, for morning tea and speeches.
2024 Destinations
View our handy destination guides to plan your holiday!
FAQs
Got a question about how the bus works? Read our FAQs here.
Book Now
Start organising your holiday today! Book your free dialysis sessions now on the Big Red Kidney Bus.
We welcome bookings and enquiries from those wanting to:
- go on holiday – whether from interstate or intrastate
- take their caravan away on holiday
- travel for work
- dialyse on country
- dialyse closer to home and reduce their usual travel time
- trial using the Big Red Kidney Bus when its located close to their usual renal unit
The Bus is often located at holiday and caravan parks that provide accommodation. This makes arriving to your appointment so easy and convenient. You can walk straight from your cabin to the Bus!
Details of the holiday park are provided so you can contact them directly and enquire about accommodation availability.
If you have any questions about the service or need help making a booking, please call our friendly team on 1800 454 363 (option 3) or email [email protected]