In Victoria under the Human Tissue Act 1982, death is defined as either brain death or circulatory death.  The circumstances of a person's death influence the type of donation they can make.

Organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas can only be donated under very special circumstances.  The person must be declared brain dead in a hospital, usually in intensive care and always on a ventilator, so that their circulatory system is still intact.

Brain death is a medical diagnosis.  It is usually caused by a severe head injury or brain haemorrhage.  The determination of brain death is only made when there is absolutely no reaction to a series of tests carried out separately by two experienced doctors.

The donation of heart valves, skin, bone and corneas is not restricted to such unusual circumstances.  While they can also be donated after brain death, importantly, they can be retrieved from donors who have died because their heart has stopped and their blood is no longer circulating.

The Bank's transplant and family liaison coordinators contact the family of a person who has recently died, making them aware of the possibility of donating and offering them the opportunity to do so if they wish.  As potential donors die in unexpected and tragic ways and as the time involved in tissue retrieval is short (less than 24 hours from the time of death), the families are approached at a very stressful time.  Families are encouraged to ask whatever questions they wish, and are supported by our staff who are respectful of whatever decision is made.

Families can donate bone and related musculoskeletal tissue, skin, heart valves and pericardium and / or corneas.

•   Bone & related musculoskeletal tissue
•   Heart valves & pericardium
•   Corneas
•   Skin

The Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria is an active member of the Australasian Tissue Banking Forum (ATBF). The ATBF is an organisation representing tissue banks throughout Australasia. Tissue banking exists primarily because of the generosity and goodwill of tissue donors and their families. This generosity needs to be respected and its benefits maximised. As a result the ATBF has embraced the following objectives:

• To foster and promote best practice in the retrieval, preparation, storage and distribution of human tissue for transplant throughout Australasia.
• To provide expert advice and guidance to those public authorities responsible for controlling and licensing Tissue Banks.
• To provide continuing education for tissue bank staff
• To collaborate with and foster a close working relationship with the professional associations involved in the transplantation of banked tissues.

The ATBF holds an annual scientific meeting which is open to tissue bankers, surgeons and other interested parties. It is an opportunity for professionals from different tissue banks, hospitals and related organisations to meet and share ideas to improve our services and continued learning.

The ATBF also operates as the Tissue Bank Standing Committee of the Transplantation Society if Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ).

For further information on the Australasian Tissue Banking Forum, including details of the next annual Scientific Meeting, please visit their website:

Australasian Tissue Banking Forum Website

	Musculoskeletal Tissue Donation		Bone is the second most transplanted tissue in the world, second only to blood. Often more effective than artificial alternatives, bone grafts can make reconstruction more feasible or shorten the recovery time for many orthopaedic procedures.
	Heart Valve Donation		These donations are used to repair congenital defects in babies who could die without surgery and to replace diseased aortic valves in adults.
	Corneal Tissue Donation		The cornea is the clear outer covering of the front of the eye. If it becomes diseased or damaged, the person's vision deteriorates, often as far as complete blindness.
	Skin Tissue Donation		Skin banking has been a godsend for burn victims. Skin is the best dressing to use on serious burns.