DonateLife ACT coordinates all organ and tissue donor activities across the territory. It works with hospitals and hospital-based DonateLife medical and nursing specialists to provide professional donation services and encourage best practice to increase donation rates.
DonateLife ACT activities include:
- raising awareness about organ and tissue donation
- encouraging discussion about donation
- educating health professionals about the donation process
- offering care and support to donor families.
Contact DonateLife ACT
General enquiries
The Canberra Hospital
Building 6, Level 1, Yamba Drive, Garran ACT 2605
PO Box 11, Woden ACT 2606
Phone: (02) 5124 5625
Fax: (02) 5124 2405
Email: Organ.Donation@act.gov.au
Contacting the on-call DonateLife specialist coordinator
Call the Canberra Hospital on (02) 5124 0000 (24 hours) and ask for the on-call organ and tissue donor coordinator.
Media contacts
Ahalya Krishinan & Janine Cunningham
Phone: 02 5124 5625
Email: ahalya.krishinan@act.gov.au & janine.cunningham@act.gov.au
DonateLife ACT team
Medical Director – Prof. Frank Van Haren
Frank Van Haren is a senior staff specialist in intensive care at the Canberra Hospital, director of the Intensive Care Research program and Associate Professor at the Medical School of the Australian National University.
Frank has more than 15 years’ experience with organ and tissue donation and transplantation in the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia. He forms part of a specialist team working closely with local hospitals and clinicians.
Agency Manager – Nadia Burkolter
Nadia Burkolter has been working in the field of organ and tissue donation as a nursing coordinator both in the ACT and NSW since 2005. She is a passionate about excellent end of life care and believes everyone should be given an opportunity to donate as part of this.
Nadia has been a registered nurse for almost 20 years and has a background in Neurosciences’ Intensive Care Nursing (both in Sydney and London). Nadia was a Stroke Clinical Nurse Consultant for many years.
She has a Graduate Certificate in Critical Care and a Masters in Clinical Practice.
After relocating her young family from Sydney to Canberra Nadia has enjoyed working with not for profit organisations and community groups through DonateLife ACT. Her focus has been on education and she has spent much time with staff across Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, Canberra Hospital & Health Services and Clare Holland House.
DonateLife ACT staff
DonateLife ACT is comprised of specially trained medical and nursing staff. The highly skilled team of organ and tissue donation specialists support the family and donation process and provide education to the community and clinicians.
DonateLife Agency staff also includes the donor family support coordinator, education coordinators, communications and media staff, and administrative support.
