DonateLife Victoria (DLV) coordinates all organ and tissue donation across the state. A team of dedicated medical and nursing specialists work within Victorian hospitals to provide professional services and encourage best practice to increase organ and tissue donation rates.
Staff at DLV also coordinate marketing and communications within the state, provide hospital and community education, and support for Victorian donor families.
Get involved and volunteer with DonateLife Victoria
DonateLife Victoria is always looking for local volunteers. To find out more, contact the Community Engagement Coordinator:
Phoebe Storey
Phone: (03) 8317 7400 or 0428 073 018
Email: donatelifecommunications@redcrossblood.org.au
Our volunteers are integral to increasing awareness of organ and tissue donation across Victoria. Our volunteer team includes:
- transplant recipients
- family members (recipient and donor families)
- general community members.
Our volunteers take part in activities and events all over the state, including information displays, community talks and media opportunities.
Contact DonateLife Victoria
Contacting the on-call DonateLife specialist coordinator
Call 1300 DLV VIC (1300 358 842) and ask for the on-call Donation Specialist Coordinator.
Donation specialists are available 24/7 for register checks, medical suitability and planning for a family donation conversation.
General enquiries
Level 2, 19–21 Argyle Place South, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: (03) 8317 7400 or 1300 133 050 (toll free)
Fax: (03) 9349 2730
Email: donatelife@redcrossblood.org.au
Media contact
Please email your enquiry through to donatelifecommunications@redcrossblood.org.au
If your enquiry requires an urgent response:
Monday - Wednesday
Liz Sonntag
Phone: 0488 247 019
Thursday - Sunday
Matt Ellis
Phone: 0418 542 802
Donor family support coordinator
Michelle Skinner
Phone: (03) 8317 7400
Email: MiSkinner@redcrossblood.org.au
General Manager - Tony Holland
Tony joined DLV in August 2019 as the first General Manager. After 12 years in the not-for-profit sector, Tony had long held a desire to work in an environment where his effort was supporting people to thrive. He says that clearly the purpose of the work at DLV ensures this.
“DLV is an amazing place to be and it is a huge privileged to be part of such a caring group of medical and nursing professionals,” he said.
Dr Rohit D’Costa has held senior medical positions with DonateLife Victoria since 2011, when he commenced as a Medical Donation Specialist. Dr D’Costa moved into the Deputy State Medical Director role in 2014, and in 2015 was appointed State Medical Director.
Dr D’Costa is also an Intensive Care Specialist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He sits as the Victorian Representative on the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society – Death and Organ Donation Committee, and as a member of the Organ and Tissue Authority’s Transplant Advisory Group. He is a trainer for the national Family Donation Conversation workshops.
Dr D’Costa is Chair of the Clinical Governance Committee – Lions Eye Donation Service and is a board member of Transplant Australia.
Sam has been formally involved with Organ donation since 2009. As a medical donation specialist and Intensivist, he has seen up close the evolution of practice over a decade. In 2015 he took on the role of Deputy State Medical Director at DonateLife Victoria.
Sam has helped develop a data driven, reflective practice model that helps bring clarity and accountability to a diverse range of health services. Sam’s donation related academic interests focus on the team aspects and conduct of organ
Justine has been with the DonateLife Network since 2010, and more recently with DonateLife Victoria since 2019. Justine has been a registered nurse for nearly 20 years, with post-graduate qualifications and experience in organ donation, critical care, research, quality improvement and leadership.
Justine leads the donation nursing team together with the DonateLife Victoria Regional Nurse Managers.
“Leading our nursing team is a privilege. Our priorities are ensuring the teams’ engagement and that we offer the best donation and transplantation service to the community.”
Matt joined DonateLife Victoria in October 2021 after nearly 20 years employment with Alfred Health as Manager of the Physiology Service and later as Business Manager for Respiratory Medicine.
Matt brings a wealth of experience in the Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement space and is passionate in using information and data to drive process change and improvement.
