Dr David Crosbie and Nurse Bridget Walters are Northern Health’s Donation Specialist Team, working closely with DonateLife Victoria to support patients and families at end of life and provide opportunities for organ and tissue donation across Northern Health. .

In the latest episode of the Visiting Hours podcast, Steve Carnell spoke with Bridget about her role and the privilege of supporting families through some of life’s most difficult moments.

“The main component and privilege of this role is supporting those patients and families who do have a loved one at the end of life and how we can work to meet anything that’s important to them,” Bridget said.

Whether it’s bringing in a loved one’s AFL jersey, playing their favourite music, or displaying messages and artwork from grandchildren, Bridget explained that creating a meaningful and personal environment can provide comfort to families during an incredibly difficult time.

“It is also about helping them make an informed decision about organ and tissue donation,” she added.

For Bridget, one of the most rewarding aspects of her role is witnessing the generosity of families at a time of profound grief.

‘You are seated with the family and they share about their loved one… it can be an array of emotions, it can be a lot of laughter that can go onto tears, but in that grief and loss it is something special how they can think of others, think of other Australians and say yes to organ donation and ultimately in their grief and loss, give the ultimate gift of life to someone else.”

“A way in which Donate Life raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation is an annual national week which is known as DonateLife Week.”

Running from Sunday 26 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, DonateLife Week encourages Australians to have conversations with their loved ones about organ and tissue donation and to register their donation decision.

The Donation Specialist Team collaborates closely with colleagues across Northern Health, including Intensive Care, Emergency Department, Theatre Department, Palliative Care and Neurology wards, Medical Designated Officers, Northern Pathology and Radiology, Echocardiology and Interventional Cardiology teams. Their work often extends beyond regular hours and involves responding within short  timeframes to ensure donor patients receive the care, dignity and respect they deserve.

Equally important is the support provided by Northern Health’s allied health teams. Social workers, Spiritual Care staff, Aboriginal Liaison Officers and the Transcultural and Language Services (TALS) interpreters play a vital role in guiding families through donation discussions and the donation process, ensuring cultural, spiritual, religious and individual needs are understood and respected.

As DonateLife Week approaches, staff are encouraged to increase their awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation by accessing the DonateLife website here.

How You Can Support DonateLife Week:

• It only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or through Medicare.
• Then, tell your family you want to be a donor.

As Bridget says, “A lot of people support organ and tissue donation, but only one-third nationally …only 36 per cent go ahead and register their wishes. So, we want people to take that minute to register this year and as well as register have that conversation with their loved ones about their wishes.”

Listen to the full podcast here: Visiting Hours S04 E02 – Bridget Walters