Overview
The Department of Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Melbourne co-ordinates a Body Donor Program for the purposes of anatomical examination and the teaching and study of anatomy.
Bodies that have been donated to the program are used in the education and training of future healthcare professionals including medical, dental, physiotherapy, science and nursing students and are also used for the advanced training of surgeons and other specialists.
Each donated body is treated with great care and respect and, on completion of our studies, is cremated. Following cremation, relatives who have requested the return of ashes are able to retrieve them for commemorative purposes.
More information
Members of the public may apply to donate their bodies through our Body Donor Program, which complies with the Human Tissue Act.
Information for prospective donors is set out in the Body Donor Information Sheet
Please be advised that the University has decided to include a further reason for non-acceptance into the program at the time of death. This has also been added to the information sheet present on our website.
If a donors death occurs between midnight on the 24th December until 11.59pm on the 31st January the University will no longer be able to accept the offer of donation.
Consent Form
A consent form is available for download. Consent Form
To contact the Body Program Coordinator:
Phone: (03) 8344 5809
or
Email: anatomy-donors@unimelb.edu.au