Transplant Australia is at the forefront of representing the transplant community’s interests to government and health authorities. Often it is work we undertake behind the scenes working to improve the transplant journey and make sure the voice of our community is heard respectfully and clearly.
Its an important time for the sector with the adoption of a new National Strategy for Organ Donation, Retrieval and Transplantation. We are pleased there is recognition to improve post-transplant care recognising the need to help recipients along their entire journey. The Law Reform Commission is also reviewing the Human Tissue Laws and this will be crucial to help improve the foundations for donation.
I am pleased to inform our community I have accepted an invitation to return to the Transplant Advisory Group which advises the CEO of the Organ & Tissue Authority regarding all matters transplant. Transplant Australia has held a position on this group since its inception and pleasingly, while I will be joining as CEO, Emmy O’Neill, our Sports and Participation Manager and kidney recipient, remains as the voice of transplant consumers. It will also be good to work alongside Chris Forbes from Kidney Health Australia.
A comprehensive list of our advocacy is quite impossible but here are just a few of the areas we represent your interests:
- Kate Clark, Manager, Programs and Operations, is a Trustee of the World Transplant Games Federation while Life Member Glenda Rayment is the WTGF Country Representative
- Emmy O’Neill, Manager, Sports and Participation, is the Consumer Rep on the CARI Guidelines IV Fluids in Transplantation Working Group, Athletics Australia Disability Inclusion Group and part of Australian Sports Commission Participation Leaders Network.
- Jo O’Farrell, Manager, Communications & Engagement, is on the Organ & Tissue Authority’s Community Engagement Group where she meets with like-minded organisations to help the OTA with its public engagement
- Recipients Troy Scudds, Glenda Rayment and Emmy O’Neill are on the WTGF Athletes Advisory Commission with interests in sprint triathlon and pétanque
- Angela Cairns, Manager, Education and Support, is running an important Living Donor Steering Group bringing together clinicians, nurses, donors and recipients
- I represent Transplant Australia on the Implementation Advisory Group of the NSW Organ Donation Plan to improve donation
- We were recently asked to participate in a workshop on the terms of reference for the upcoming Law Reform Commission review into the Human Tissue Laws
- We are being consulted on the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority Organ and Tissue Donation Project which is the complex Federal/State arrangements for reimbursement of hospital costs for donation and transplantation.
- I am a Director of the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability
- We submitted comprehensive papers to both inquiries into organ donation in Victoria and WA last year and were invited to present in-person to both committees.
Transplant Australia has built a solid reputation of working positive with government to improve donation and transplant outcomes in Australia. This remains our focus as well as fully activating our Advocacy Advisory Group next year.
Chris Thomas
Chief Executive Officer, Transplant Australia
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