About Us

DELA gives renal patients freedom from their everyday surrounds.

Nancy Douglas-Irving OAM and Enzo Scipioni OAM, having together experienced almost 20 years of dialysis for kidney failure, established DELA in 1998. Today, the organization is operated by a small team of dedicated volunteers, led by Nancy, Enzo and Wayne Cooper, who are passionate about providing opportunities for dialysis patients.

Nancy, Enzo and Wayne set out to address the restricted lifestyle imposed by dialysis by setting up temporary dialysis units at resorts and on cruise ships to allow patients a holiday, without the stress and difficulties commonly experienced when organizing treatment away from home.

DELA offers “getaways ” 2-3 times a year for groups of up to 12 patients with their partners and also produces a newsletter that is distributed to all dialysis units across Australia.

One of DELA’s aims is to help renal patients regain their confidence to travel. This service also provides respite to the partner and family members who care for the person requiring dialysis. Long-term friendships are often made among the travellers.