DonateLife WA coordinates all organ and tissue donor activities across the state. 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 WA 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 WA
General enquiries
Suite 3, 311 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000
PO Box 332, Northbridge WA 6865
Phone: (08) 9222 0222
Fax: (08) 9222 0220
Email: donatelife@health.wa.gov.au
To contact the on-call donor coordinator
Call the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on (08) 6457 3333 (24 hours). Ask to speak with the on-call organ and tissue donor coordinator.
Media, volunteering and community presentations contact
Jenny Duggan
Phone: 0477 371 675
Email: communications.donatelife@health.wa.gov.au
Education and administration coordinator
Diane Kearney
Phone: (08) 9222 8560
Email: educationwa.donatelife@health.wa.gov.au
DonateLife WA team
Acting Medical Director – Dr Simon Towler
Dr Simon Towler is the Clinical Lead for the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS). He is a staff specialist in intensive care at the Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) in Perth’s southern suburbs. As a practicing intensive care specialist he moved to the Fiona Stanley Hospital after working at Royal Perth Hospital for 25 years in the intensive care unit including a period as Head of Department and Director of the Division of Critical Care.
He was a Medical Co-Director at FSH during the commissioning of the hospital before being appointed as the Clinical Lead to the Futures Program in SMHS. The latter role included development of Clinician Engagement Strategy, establishing SMHS as a Champion Choosing Wisely Health Service, examining variation in practice, establishing the first Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI) Chapter in Western Australia and championing the implementation of new approaches to end of life care and sepsis management.
Dr Towler was Western Australia’s Chief Medical Officer from 2006 until April 2012. He has particular interests in technology in health care, patient blood management and evidence into practice in hospital services. He established the WA Health Networks and promoted the development of Models of Care with a strong patient and carer focus.
Clinical Nurse Manager – Melissa Smith
Melissa Smith is a registered nurse. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Nursing, a postgraduate diploma in ICU nursing and a Diploma of Counselling.
Raised in the Gascoyne region of WA, Melissa has worked in adult ICU management and education in WA and in the UK.
She began working at DonateLife as a donor coordinator in 2000, with stints as an education officer and acting manager. Melissa became clinical nurse manager in 2013.
DonateLife WA staff
DonateLife WA 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.
Volunteer with DonateLife WA
Volunteers are integral to increasing awareness of organ and tissue donation across Western Australia. The volunteer team includes:
- transplant recipients
- family members (recipient and donor families)
- general community members.
Statewide volunteers take part in activities and events all over the state, including information displays, community talks and media opportunities.
DonateLife WA is always looking for local volunteers. To find out more, please email volunteer.donatelife@health.wa.gov.au
