Ms Barrett, a retired nurse, says she has always had a fascination with forensic medicine and research.

“It is a decision I am very comfortable with,” she said.

“I am not married and I have no children, so for me it is a decision that would be a lot easier than for many people,” she said.

Ms Barrett says she is not disturbed by the idea her body could be dissected, with the various parts to be viewed by medical and forensic science students as part of their study.

“How else can they gain their experience unless it’s with the real thing,” she said.

“I don’t even have a problem if my body is taken out and left in the bush so they can monitor it for forensic research.”

Ms Barrett began thinking seriously about the prospect of donating her body about four years ago.

Deidre Penhall of Penhall’s Funerals said last year the funeral home transported three bodies to the University of Wollongong, where they were used for medical study.

University of Wollongong dean of medicine Professor Ian Wilson said anyone wishing to donate their body to science needed to put all the plans in place before they died.

“There is paperwork we have here at the university which needs to be completed and it is not sufficient to just put your wishes in your will,” he said.

Professor Wilson said all body parts used in study by students were carefully recorded.

“When we receive bodies we are able to keep them for four years, so we immediately embalm them in formalin,” he said.

“Body parts are all microchipped and at the end of the four years we can either return the remains to family members or we arrange for cremation, with a memorial plaque placed at the local cemetery, all at a cost to the university,” he said.

The University of Sydney’s anatomy and histology department also runs a body donor program.

Here is the procedure for donating your body to science.

All medical educational institutions require you to complete and lodge paper work with their relevant faculty before you die.

Your body cannot be bequeathed in your will and family members cannot donate your body to science.

The University of Sydney must receive bodies 24-hours from the time of death, which means many donations from rural areas cannot be accepted.

The University of Wollongong also has a program in place and are able to hold and use bodies for medical study purposes for four years.

You can be both an organ donor and donate your body to science.

Following your death your body will be transported to the relevant medical school via a funeral director.

Research facilities advise potential donors to have the discussion with their general practitioner to let them know their wishes, as well as a local funeral home.

All expenses associated with transfer of the body are met by the university involved.

There is a provision on the Sydney University donor’s form to indicate whether you give consent for your body, or tissue taken from it to be transferred to another licenced institution in Australia.

At the time of death many families organise a ceremony with their chosen funeral director however, the body would not be present.

Bodies can be held by a university for four years and up to eight years with permission from NSW Health.

Once a body has been donate no family members or friends are allowed to visit and view the body.