Body Donation Program

FAQs

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• Will my loved one’s body be accepted over this closure period?

  Regrettably, we cannot accept donors who have passed away between 17th December 2025 and 3rd January 2026, inclusive. 

  All donors that are accepted into our care must be received within 72 hours of death. If your loved one has died prior to noon Saturday 3rd January, we cannot consider their body for donation.

• If my loved one has died on the weekend prior to 5th January 2026, will you accept their body (Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th of January)?

  The program will reopen on January 5, 2026, and there is a chance that we may be able to accept someone who has passed away on the 3rd or 4th of January 2026. 

  Acceptance of a donor is considered on a case-by-case basis, and considerations must include distance from UTS and the time taken to organise transportation of the individual for the program to receive them within 72 hours of death.

• If my loved one has died on Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th January, what do I do?

  1. Please leave your details via email or voicemail for a return call on our return on 5th January 2026. We will return your call to discuss completing a donor suitability questionnaire with you to determine if your loved one is suitable for donation.
  2. Ensure that your loved one is moved to cool storage as soon as possible following death. This may be a hospital or facility mortuary.
  3. Where the donor has passed away at home or in a nursing home without mortuary facilities, please ensure the room is made as cold as possible and organise for your loved one to be transported to a funeral home that you trust and would use as your preferential contingency plan. 

• Why can’t my loved one’s body be accepted?

  Unfortunately, registering to donate to a body donation program does not guarantee acceptance. There are several reasons why bodies cannot be accepted after death, including infectious diseases or the time elapsed since death. 

  We advise all our donors to have an alternative plan in place in the event that it is not possible to fulfill their wish, and to have discussed their preference with their family so that everyone is informed. 

  For more information on why someone may not be accepted into the program, please refer to Questions 5 & 6 of the Body Donation Program Information Booklet.