“You’re helping people through the worst time in their life. It’s quite a rewarding position to be in and quite a privileged position ... It’s a special, sacred place to be.”

These are the heartfelt words of Michelle Skinner, DonateLife Victoria’s Donor Family Support Coordinator, who in this episode of Let’s Talk Organ and Tissue Donation speaks about her important role in supporting those families who have lost a loved one and who have gone on to become an organ donor

With a background in grief counselling and many years working with the Victorian State Coroner’s Office before joining DonateLife Victoria, Michelle talks about her vast experience counselling families who have lost a loved one in a tragic and unexpected way; and the comfort counselling can bring those families for days, weeks or years to come.  

While some may initially feel uncomfortable with the idea of counselling, Michelle says, “What they realise, I hope, is that it’s a safe place for them. It’s a place that allows them to talk about their feelings and their person, and say anything they want to, without judgement, and I can give them some strategies to help them get through the day.”

More Australians are alive today because of organ and tissue donation. To register to be an organ and tissue donor, visit donatelife.gov.au – it only takes a minute.