What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I moved to Brimbank two and half years ago. I didn’t know the area that well prior to moving to Cairnlea, so I have enjoyed exploring the area and what it has to offer.
What’s your favourite thing about Brimbank?
My favourite place is Brimbank Park. I love being able to take my dogs for a walk on the Maribyrnong River trail and feel like we are in the middle of a forest. I also love being part of the ParkRun at Brimbank Park, although the hills can certainly be a challenge! Overall, I enjoy Brimbank’s diversity – the people, businesses, cultures, and its location.
What could be done to improve the area?
More direct bike path connections to the city would certainly improve the area. This would provide another option to residents who do not want to undertake the commute on public transport and would help keep more cars off the road. It would also allow safe alternatives for those cyclists who do not want to ride on major city roads.
Tell us about your role as a donation specialist nurse co-ordinator.
I spent six years in this role, I was responsible for organising the organ donation process. This included supporting bereaved families and providing them with information they needed to make a decision about organ donation, right through to accompanying the donor in their donation operation. I was also responsible for gathering information about the donor, identifying and assessing risks to recipients, and referring organs to transplant teams in Victoria and Australia. Addressing the needs and wishes of the donor and their family is always our first priority.
What was the most challenging part of the job?
Meeting families on the worst day of their lives. But I also considered it a privilege because I was able to help them honour the wishes of their loved one. Raising organ donation with families who did not know the wishes of their loved one is more difficult. When a family knows if their loved one wanted to be an organ donor, the clarity this can provide at a time of immense grief and loss is profound. For this reason, I would encourage anyone reading this to consider if you were in the rare circumstance where you could become an organ donor, what you would want? I would then ask that you register this decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register at www.donatelife.gov.au and tell your family about your decision.
Tell us about your current role at DonateLife.
My current role at DonateLife Victoria is as an educator. The education team at DonateLife Victoria trains donor co-ordinators and other donation specialists in Victorian hospitals. We run educational workshops for hospital medical and nursing staff to increase their knowledge and understanding to help ensure we identify every opportunity for organ donation.
