The Australian government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
The National DonateLife Family Support Service supports donor families through providing care, information and answers.
This service includes:
Families are able to opt in or out of ongoing contact and support.
Families can access support services through their local DonateLife Agency.
We monitor our services to ensure we provide best practice. You can read more about our studies into donor families’ experiences: National Study of Family Experiences of Organ and Tissue Donation.
The following booklets have been developed to support families involved in donation.
The National DonateLife Family Support Service describes the service in more detail.
The Understanding death and donation booklet helps families understand donation. It contains information on brain death and circulatory death as well as organ and tissue donation. It is available in 11 languages in our community resource library.
The In reflection: Supporting families who have participated in the organ and tissue donation program booklet includes information about grief, support services, and the donation process. This booklet is available in 11 languages in our community resource library
The In reflection: For families who have supported eye or tissue donation booklet includes information about grief, support services and the tissue and eye donation process.
The Counselling support services booklet provides contact details for support services available in all Australian states and territories. It also provides details of books focused on grief and bereavement care.
