In Australia donor families are provided with support through the National Donor Family Support Service. This service provides nationally consistent support that is respectful and responsive to the needs of each family.  

Donor Family Support Coordinators are located in each state and territory DonateLife Agency. The Donor Family Support Coordinators provides information and assistance to support donor families after donation.

In the first month following donation, the DonateLife Donor Coordinator and/or the Donor Family Support Coordinator provide donor families with an information pack which includes support services available to them in their state or territory and anonymous details about the recipients.

The Donor Family Support Coordinators are available to support the donor family in the months following their loss.  They are there to listen; to provide information and reassurance and to answer any questions or concerns the donor family may have. The service includes counselling or referral to local grief counsellors if required.

If they wish, families receive ongoing support and are sent invitations to attend DonateLife Service of Remembrance held annually in their state or territory.

Contact between donor families and recipients

Donor families and transplant recipients can write anonymous letters to each other through the DonateLife Agency and through transplant units. This process remains anonymous by law. Further information can be obtained by contacting DonateLife in your state or territory.

Read the Correspondence Guidelines for Donor Families* (1.20MB PDF)

*These guidelines are currently under review and will form part of the new national suite of Donor Family Support Resources