Transplant Australia is proud to join a new national campaign led by News Corp Australia to convince state and territory governments to reinstate the organ donation tick box on the drivers’ licence.
The ‘Count Me In Campaign’ kicks off Sunday March 1 and features stories and profiles of donor and transplant advocates in newspapers across Australia.
Transplant Australia CEO, Chris Thomas, said the campaign was well overdue, describing the decision to remove donor registration from drivers’ licences as ‘the worst health policy failure of the 21st Century’.
“The proof is in the raw statistics. Only 35 per cent of adult Australians are registered as donors yet in the one and only state where registration was retained on the drivers’ licence – South Australia – more than 74 per cent of adults are registered,” Mr Thomas said.
“It was a unique moment when young Australians were making one of their first major life decisions, and we removed that opportunity. And registration has stagnated ever since.”
Registration is vital as it doubles the chance of your family supporting your decision to be a donor – a family consent rate in excess of 80 per cent for registered donors as opposed to around 40 per cent for those who are not registered or have not discussed donation.
Transplant Australia is writing to all state and territory governments asking them to work with federal authorities to link drivers licence systems with the national Australian Organ Donor Register.
“The modelling is clear. If half of all eligible Australians were registered- a rate South Australia already exceeds – national consent would rise significantly, delivering more than 80 additional donors and around 200 more lives every year.
“Australians already associate organ donation with their driver’s licence. Many still believe ticking a box at renewal is how they register. They expect to make this decision there – at a natural moment of identity and responsibility.
“Reconnecting the Australian Organ Donor Register to driver’s licences nationwide will require cooperation between government portfolios, State and Commonwealth.
“This is not a partisan issue. It is a practical public health measure that could deliver hundreds more transplants over the coming decade and spare families the burden of uncertainty at the worst moment of their lives. This is where registration makes the difference – it informs our families of our decision so they don’t have to make it on our behalf when they are already grappling with the loss of a loved one.
“Organ and tissue donation is the greatest gift we can give. We hope this campaign will encourage many more Australians to register as donors.
Transplant Australia congratulated News Corp and The Sunday Mail in Queensland’s Editor, Mel Pilling, for their dedication and leadership in launching this campaign.
To register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.donatelife.gov.au and tell your family about your decision.
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