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Writing to your donor / recipient

All donor/recipient information is highly confidential. Although it is against all rules and regulations to find out who your donor or recipient is, you are able to write anonymously to your donor family/recipient.

Please follow the guidelines set out below if you wish to do so.

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  • Can I write to a donor family?

Can I write to a recipient?

A GUIDE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF DECEASED DONORS

Donor Families often ask the question "Can I write to the Transplant Recipient?"

The answer is "Of course you can!"

When you lose someone close to you, you experience many emotions. Some family members of deceased donors find comfort in the knowledge that the organs and/or tissue that their loved one donated has been a positive outcome and the correct thing to do as this is what their relative wanted.

Some families may wish to write a letter or send a card to the transplant recipient/s. The time to write to the recipient varies and you should do this when you are ready.

Knowing what to write, where to send your letter and what happens .

There are guidelines that you need to be aware of and these are in place for a reason, to protect the identity of both the family of the deceased and the transplant recipient.

Following is some information that you may choose to put in your card or letter: -

  • Only use your first name or sign off Donor Family
  • Age and gender
  • Information about your family - no names or addresses
  • Any special interests or hobbies

Please DO NOT include your full name, address or contact details.

Enclose your card or letter in an unaddressed unsealed envelope inside another envelope addressed to the donor co-ordinator in your state. Please include a piece of paper with your name address, and contact details and the donor's name and date of donation.

Your card or letter will be reviewed before it is sent on to the recipient. This ensures that confidentiality has not been breached. A copy of your card or letter is kept on file in case the original is lost.

The donor co-ordinator will send the correspondence to the Transplant Units concerned - please be aware that this process may take several weeks - please be assured that your letter will be sent to the Transplant Recipient.

If your card or letter is unable to be forwarded, you will be advised.

Some recipients may choose to respond to your letter or card, while others may not, this is their personal decision.

Further information can be obtained from the Donor Co-ordinator in your state.

NATIONAL

Australians Donate
Level 2, 20 Albert Road
South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Telephone: (03) 9696 0651
Facsimile: (03) 9696 0681

NEW SOUTH WALES

Organ Donation Network 
Australian Red Cross Blood Service,
Level 5, 153 Clarence Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Telephone toll free: 1800-355-042
Telephone: (02)  9229 4444 (Donor Coordinator on call)
Telephone: (02)  9229 4003
Facsimile: (02)  9229 4413
Email: abarnwell@arcbs.redcross.org.au

NORTHERN TERRITORY

LifeNet NT

Royal Darwin Hospital
Rockland Drive Tiwi 0810
Telephone: (08) 8922 8786
Facsimile: (08) 8922 8733
Email: lifenetnt.ths@nt.gov.au

 

QUEENSLAND

Queenslanders Donate
Building 1, Level 4
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Ipswich Road
Woolloongabba Queensland 4102
Telephone: (07) 3240 2350 / 2349 / 5517
Facsimile: (07) 3240 2999

Email: queenslandersdonate@health.qld.gov.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Sourh Australian Organ Donation Agency (SAODA)
Ground Floor, 165 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8207 7117
Facsimile: (08) 8207 7102

Email: organ.donation@dhs.sa.gov.au

VICTORIA & TASMANIA

Victorian Organ Donor Service - LifeGift
538 Swanston Street,
Carlton VIC 3053
Telephone: (03)  9349 2278
 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Donate West
6th Floor,
Albert Facey House,
469 Wellington Street
Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9222 0222
Email: donatewest@health.wa.gov.au

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Can I write to a donor family?

A GUIDE FOR TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Transplant recipients often ask the question "Can I write to my donor's family?"

The answer is "Of course you can!"

Receiving a card or letter from a transplant recipient is very special for the family of an organ donor,

The following guidelines are set out to help you write, if in time you feel this is something that you would like to do.

Knowing what to write, where to send your letter and what happens .

There are guidelines that you need to be aware of and these are in place for a reason, to protect the identity of both the transplant recipient and family of the deceased.

You may wish to chose a card that represents your feelings in the picture or words, simply sign it "from a grateful recipient".

Following is some information that you may choose to put in your card or letter: -

  • Use simple language, as everyone has a different way of coping with the loss of someone they loved
  • You may wish to say something like how long you waited for your transplant
  • How your life has changed following your transplant
  • You may wish to say "Thank You"
  • Only use your first name or sign off transplant recipient
  • Age and gender
  • Information about your family - no names or addresses
  • Any special interests or hobbies

Please DO NOT include your full name, address or contact details.

Enclose your card or letter in an unaddressed unsealed envelope inside another envelope addressed to the donor co-ordinator in your state. Please include a piece of paper with your name, address, and contact details, the date of your transplant and name of the hospital.

Your card or letter will be reviewed before it is sent on to the donor family. This ensures that confidentiality has not been breached. A copy of your card or letter is kept on file in case the original is lost.

The donor co-ordinator will send the correspondence to the donor family concerned, provided they have not requested otherwise.- please be aware that this process may take several weeks - please be assured that your letter will be sent on.

If your card or letter is unable to be forwarded, you will be advised.

Some families may choose to respond to your letter or card, while others may not, this is their personal decision.

Further information can be obtained from the Donor Co-ordinator in your state.

NATIONAL

Australians Donate
Level 2, 20 Albert Road,
South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Telephone:  (03) 9696 0651
Facsimile: (03) 9696 0681

NEW SOUTH WALES

Organ Donation Network
Australian Red Cross Blood Service,
Level 5, 153 Clarence Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Telephone toll free: 1 800 355 042

Donor Coordinator
Telephone: (02) 9229 4335/4336/4468
Facsimile: (02) 9229 4413
Coordinator of Bereavement Services
Telephone: (02) 9229 4463
Email: abarnwell@arcbs.redcross.org.au

NORTHERN TERRITORY

LifeNet NT
Royal Darwin Hospital
Rocklands Drive
Tiwi NT 0810
Telephone: (08) 8922 8786
Facsimile: (08) 8922 8733

Email: lifenetnt.ths@nt.gov.au

QUEENSLAND

Queenslanders Donate
Building 1, Level 4
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Ipswich Road
Woolloongabba Queensland 4102
Telephone: (07) 3240 2350 / 2349 / 5517
Facsimile: (07) 3240 2999

Email: queenslandersdonate@health.qld.gov.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australian Organ Donation Agency (SAODA)
Ground Floor, 165 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8207 7117
Facsimile: (08) 8207 7102
Telephone: (07) 3240 2350 / 2349 / 5517

Email: organ.donation@dhs.sa.gov.au

VICTORIA & TASMANIA

Victorian Organ Donor Service - LifeGift
538 Swanston Street,
Carlton VIC 3053
Telephone: (03) 9349 2278
 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Donate West
6th Floor,
Albert Facey house
469 Wellington Street,
Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9222 0222
Email: donatewest@health.wa.gov.au

.

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