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
Hawthorn House, 100 Flinders Street, Mt Hawthorn WA 6016
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 contact
Jenny Duggan
Phone: 0477 371 675
Email: communications.donatelife@health.wa.gov.au
Education and administration coordinator
Diane Kearney
Phone: (08) 9222 0222
Email: educationwa.donatelife@health.wa.gov.au
Donor family support coordinator
Anna Wilson (available (Wednesdays, Thursdays and alternate Mondays)
Phone: 0472 865 601
Email: DonateLife@DFSC@health.wa.gov.au
DonateLife WA team
Medical Director – Dr Simon Towler
Dr Simon Towler is a staff specialist in Intensive Care at the Fiona Stanley Hospital, Clinical Lead for End of Life Care with the WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network, and State Medical Director of DonateLife WA. He is a fellow of the College of Intensive Care Medicine, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the Australasian College of Health Service Managers and the Australian Medical Association.
Previously the Chief Medical Officer of Western Australia from 2006 to 2012, and a former President of the AMA in Western Australia, Dr Towler has had many senior roles across WA Health. More recently he was a member of the Clinical Reference Group for the Sustainable Health Review released in 2019 and was a member of the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying in the same year.
In his current role as End of Life Care Clinical Lead he is extensively involved in the implementation of key commitments made by the WA Government arising from the My Life, My Choice Report, including implementation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation and the recommendations arising from the Millman Committee Report with regards advance health directives and advance care plans.
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
