Body Donor Program
The Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience 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
Consent Form
A consent form is available for download. Consent Form
To contact the Body Program Coordinator:
Phone: (3) 8344 5809
or
Email: anatomy-donors@unimelb.edu.au
Our body donors contribute substantially to the quality of medical education. At the University of Melbourne we hold an annual Commemorative Thanksgiving Service to acknowledge the generosity of our donors. This service is attended by family and friends of our body donors, with anatomy staff and students of the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience.
We have also recently commissioned a sculpture by renowned artist Heather Swann to be situated on campus in honour of our donors and which will serve both as a daily reminder to staff and students of the donor gift and also as a site of remembrance for family and friends to visit year round. For further information please contact the Body Donor Co-ordinator on (3) 83445809 or by email anatomy-donors@unimelb.edu.au.
Body Donor Coordinator
Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Phone: +61 3 8344 5809
Fax: +61 3 9347 5219
Email: anatomy-donors@unimelb.edu.au
NSW
Western Australia
The University of Western Australia