1. [Your organisation’s logo and name can be inserted here]
Good morning/afternoon/evening
[Introduce your name and position/organisation]
Thanks for having me along to talk about a subject that potentially affects us all. And one we should all consider. I’m talking about organ and tissue donation.
I plan to:
- Present some of the key facts about organ and tissue donation in Australia;
Talk about some of the common myths about organ and tissue donation; and,
Speak about why it is so important that every Australian:
discovers the facts about organ and tissue donation
makes and registers their informed decision about becoming a donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register, and
most importantly, discusses their donation decisions with their family.
[Your organisation’s logo and name can be inserted here]

2. One organ and tissue donor can save and improve the lives of up to 10 or more people.
Organ and tissue donation saves and improves the quality of life for recipients and for their families.
While Australia’s donation rates are improving, we need to see a sustained increase so more lives can be saved and improved.
We can all contribute by making informed decisions about becoming an organ and tissue donor, and making sure that within our own families each other’s donation decisions are known.

3. Did you know?
The majority of Australians (69%) are willing to become organ and tissue donors
One organ and tissue donor can save and improve the lives of up to 10 or more people
Even if you register as a donor, your next of kin will be asked to confirm your decision
In Australia the family will always be asked to confirm the donation decision of the deceased before donation for transplantation can proceed
Nine in ten families agree to donation when their loved one is a registered donor
The majority of Australians (69%) are willing to become organ and tissue donors.
Did you know that one organ and tissue donor can save and improve the lives of up to 10 or more people?
Did you also know that even if you register your decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register, your family still need to know your donation decision.
This is because your family will always be asked to confirm the donation decision of a deceased person before donation for transplantation can proceed.
The most important thing for families in deciding to consent to donation is knowing the donation decision of the deceased person. Families that know the donation decision of the deceased person are more likely to consent to donation. Nine in ten families agree to donation when their loved one is a registered donor.
Some people believe if they have signed on to the Australian Organ Donor Register that this is all they are required to do. Many Australians are not aware that it is their closest family member who will ultimately confirm a decision regarding donation, should the situation arise.
We need more Australians to discuss their donation decision with the people close to them, so that we can increase the family consent rate in Australia to our target of 75%—up from our current level of approximately 60%.

4. The situation in Australia
503 deceased organ donors gave 1,713 Australians a new chance in life
In Australia more than 60% of families gave consent for organ and tissue donation to proceed.
Around 1,400 Australians are on national transplant waiting lists at any one time.
Less than 2% of people actually die in hospital in the specific circumstances where organ donation is possible.
In 2016 a record 1,713 Australians received a lifesaving transplant thanks to the generosity of 503 deceased and 267 living organ donors and their families.
Since the DonateLife Network was established in 2009, deceased organ donation has more than doubled, with 503 donors in 2016 compared to 247 in And there has been a 81% increase in the number of transplant recipients (1,447 in 2016 compared to 799 in 2009).
Less than 2% of all hospitals deaths happen in a way where organ donation is possible (about 1,100 deaths in 2016). Many more can become eye and tissue donors as tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after death, regardless of where it occurred.
NB. For the most up to date data on Australia’s organ donation rates you can also refer to the following websites: and
We can and need to do more. At any one time, around 1,400 people are on national transplant waiting lists.

5. Australia’s donation and transplantation outcomes
Australia’s donation and transplantation outcomes in 2016.
Compared to the outcomes achieved in 2009, Australia’s 2016 outcomes represent:
- a 104% increase in the number of deceased organ donors (503 donors in 2016, compared with 247 in 2009)
- an 81% increase in the number of transplant recipients (1,447 recipients in 2016, compared with 799 in 2009)
- a 79% increase in the number of organ transplant procedures (1,508 transplants in 2016, compared with 843 in 2009).
The 2016 outcome of 646 consented donors represents a 140% increase over the 269 consented donors in This reflects the increased activity, directly attributable to the reform program, to support every potential donation opportunity.
More than half of deceased organ donors are also eye and/or tissue donors. Eye and tissue donation and transplantation continues to increase and improve the lives of Australians. In 2016 there were 7,468 tissue transplant recipients an increase of 17% in the number of tissue transplant recipients over These included 7,073 recipients of musculoskeletal tissue, 230 recipients of cardiovascular tissue and 165 recipients of skin tissue.
In ,281 eye donors enabled 2,085 corneal transplants. This outcome represents a 39% increase in eye donors since the 2009 baseline. Australian eye banks continued to meet all requests for eye tissue for transplantation in 2016 with transplant rates remaining relatively consistent since 2012.
A further 265 Australians received a live kidney transplant in 2016 including 44 transplants through the Australian Paired Kidney Exchange (AKX) Program.
While there is strong growth, the demand for organs for transplantation continues to exceed supply in Australia as in the rest of the world. The Strategic Plan for the OTA and DonateLife Network sets out clear strategies to achieve continued growth in donation and transplantation activity.

6. Deceased organ donors 2009-2016
In 2016 there were 503 deceased organ donors. This represents a 16% increase over 2015 (435) and a 104% increase over 2009 (247), the year the DonateLife Network was established.
When compared to the historical average of 205 deceased organ donors per annum (2000–2008), the 2016 outcome of 503 donors represents a 145% increase.

7. Living Donors
In 2016 there were 265 living kidney and 2 living liver donors. This is a 9% increase from the total of 245 living donors in 2015.
Most living donors are relatives or close friends of the recipient. Through the Organ and Tissue Authority’s Australian Paired Kidney Exchange, the number of options for live kidney donation is increased by identifying matches for patients who are eligible for a kidney transplant and have a living donor who is willing but unable to donate because an incompatible blood or tissue type.
The Australian Paired Kidney Exchange program has resulted in 198 successful live kidney transplants since its establishment in 2010.

8. National deceased donation and transplant rates
Australia’s national donation rate in 2016 was 20.8 donors per million population (dpmp). It exceeded the 2015 outcome of 18.3 dpmp by 14%. Significantly, Australia’s donation rate of 20.8 dpmp represents a 82% increase over 2009 (11.4 dpmp).
The transplant recipients per million population rate (trpmp) was 60.0, 15% higher than the 2015 outcome (52.1) and 63% higher than 2009 (36.8).
It is difficult to draw direct comparisons between countries in terms of their progress in organ donation reform as there are many differences between health care systems, population size, community attitudes and the relative starting points for national organ and tissue donation reform.
An important example of this difference is the age profile of donors in Australia and Spain. Spain has a strong focus on older donors, supported by a comprehensive donor/recipient age matching system. A stronger focus on using older donors in Australia will require a shift in acceptance practices by transplant units. The OTA continues to work with the transplant sector to explore opportunities for broadening the medical suitability criteria for donors and thus increasing the acceptance of organs from older donors.

9. Jurisdictional donation rates 2016
Australia’s potential for continued growth is clear, with jurisdictional outcomes in 2016 ranging from 17.7 dpmp to 32.3 dpmp across states and territories. South Australia, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory were national leaders in donation outcomes achieving donation rates of 23.4, 24.5 and 32.3 dpmp respectively. The Australian Capital Territory also achieved the greatest growth in 2016, increasing from 21.2 dpmp in 2015 to 32.3 dpmp.
There is considerable potential for other jurisdictions to improve their donation performance.

10. Why do people need transplants?
Inherited genetic condition
Cardiomyopathy (affects the heart)
Cystic fibrosis (affects the lungs)
Bilary atresia (affects the liver)
Disease or damage to eyes
Congenital defects in young children
Severe trauma from accidents leading to organ failure
Rheumatic fever and other severe illness or disease
Burns can require skin grafts
Why people need transplants?
Many people have an inherited genetic condition, a severe illness or disease that will kill them, often at a young age.
Common genetic conditions are cardiomyopathy which affects the heart, cystic fibrosis which affects the lungs, and bilary atresia which affects the liver.
Corneal transplants restore sight to people following a disease or damage to their eyes.
Heart valves are used to repair congenital defects in young children and replace defective valves due to disease such as rheumatic fever, degeneration and fever.
Sometimes people can have severe trauma from accidents which can lead to organ failure.
And grafting skin tissue can assist people who have suffered severe burns.

11. Who can become an organ and tissue donor?
Almost anyone can donate
Don’t assume you are too old, too young or not healthy enough
People who cannot donate organs may still be able to donate tissue
Most religions support organ and tissue donation
Living donors can donate a kidney or partial liver
Almost anyone can donate their organs and tissue.
While your age and medical history will be considered, you shouldn’t assume you are too old, too young or not healthy enough. Many Australians think they are too old to donate. There’s every chance that, whatever your age, some of your organs and tissue will be suitable for donation.
Only some medical conditions may prevent you from being a donor and if your organs are medically unsuitable you may still be able to donate your tissue.
While a person needs to die in specific circumstances to be a potential organ donor, that is in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Emergency Department, many more people can become eye and tissue donors as the requirements are not as restricted.
Others believe they have medical conditions which preclude them from donating, or that their cultural or religious beliefs are contrary to donation. But most religions support organ and tissue donation as generous acts that benefit people. This includes Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism. You can also read more about religion and donation at

12. What can people donate? ORGANS TISSUE KIDNEYS CORNEAS LIVER
HEART VALVES
HEART
PANCREAS ISLETS
LUNGS
SKIN
PANCREAS
BONE
TENDONS
LIGAMENTS
The types of organ and tissue that can be donated includes:
Organs:
Kidneys
Liver
Heart
Lungs
Pancreas
Tissue:
Corneas
Heart valves
Pancreas islets
Skin
Bone
Tendons
Ligaments
Living donors can also donate their femoral head when undergoing total hip replacements.

13. Why we need to start talking?
The majority of Australians (74%) recognise it is important to discuss donation decisions with family members and loved ones.
60% of Australians have discussed their organ and tissue donation decisions with their family, with 85% indicating the discussion was memorable.
61% of Australians are unsure or do not know the donation decisions of family members.
We need to normalise discussion about organ and tissue donation.
Research by the Organ and Tissue Authority shows how real the need is to encourage more Australian families to discuss organ and tissue donation.
While the majority of Australians believe it is important to discuss donation wishes with family members, many have not had such a discussion and 61% do not know or are unsure of the donation wishes of their family members.
Many Australians who have not discussed their donation wishes are not sure how to go about starting the ‘donation conversation’ with family members. There is a Family Discussion Kit on the DonateLife website which has lots of suggestions about how you can start the conversation.
We need to normalise discussion about organ and tissue donation as part of natural end of life conversations.

14. Donation consent rates
Registration and family knowledge of donation decisions makes a difference at the time of making a decision about proceeding with organ and tissue donation.
For people who have made a decision to donate, registering their donation decision on the AODR increases the likelihood of their decision being upheld. For people who are undecided, making and registering their donation decision and discussing their decision with family members is vital to ensure their wishes are known and respected.
DonateLife Audit data to December 2016 shows that 88% of families agreed to donation where the deceased had registered their decision to donate, compared to the national average of 60%. When the deceased had neither registered their donation decision nor discussed their wishes with family members, the consent rate dropped to just 52%.

15. What can you do?
You can find out all the facts about organ and tissue donation on the donatelife.gov.au website
Once you have made an informed decision about becoming an organ and tissue donor, register your decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register. Visit
And the most important thing you can do, is to discuss your donation decision with your family and close friends. It’s also important that you know their donation decision so that you are prepared to confirm their decision, should the situation ever arise.
NB It is recommended that you provide leave-behind DonateLife factsheets and the DonateLife-Australian Organ Donor Register brochures.

16. Get involved
Ask your friends if they have discussed their donation decision with their next of kin.
Become a volunteer or member of a community organisation or DonateLife agency.
Organise a speaking event in your community and distribute DonateLife factsheets and resources.
Take part in DonateLife Week, the annual awareness week which is held in July/August.
Follow DonateLife on social media – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Display DonateLife posters and brochures in your community and start a discussion.
Discuss with your workplace/sporting organisation about becoming a DonateLife Friend.
There are many ways that you can get involved to promote organ and tissue donation.
You can use your donation decision to start the conversation with family and friends.
Ask your friends if they have discussed their donation decision with their next of kin, and if they know the donation decision of their family members.
You might like to become a volunteer with one of the community organisations dedicated to organ and tissue donation and transplantation, or with the DonateLife Agency in your state or territory.
You can join in the many community events which take place each July/August during DonateLife Week, or you might like to register your own awareness-raising event.
You can follow DonateLife on social media.
You could even discuss with your school, workplace or sporting club the idea of becoming a DonateLife partner to show your support for organ and tissue donation. You can find out more about this at donatelife.gov.au.
Continued growth in donation for transplantation ultimately requires the support of the Australian community. Behind the statistics of donation and transplantation are individuals and families, whose stories of courage and generosity should inspire us all to register on the Australian Organ Donor Register and discuss our donation decisions.

17. Questions? www.donatelife.gov.au Thank you. Any questions?
Version December 2010 17