(21k)Joint Media Release
Chris Bowen MP
Minister for Human Services
Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law
Mark Butler MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Health
18 February 2010
Reminder for Organ Donor Awareness Week
Minister for Human Services, Chris Bowen MP, and Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler MP, today urged Australians who have registered their organ and tissue donation decision with the Australian Organ Donor Register to check their details are up to date and talk to their family about their decision.
“Around 5.6 million Australians have registered their donation decision, including the organs and tissue they wish to donate, on the national Australian Organ Donor Register,” Mr Bowen said.
“Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week is from 21-28 February and is a great reminder to check that your registration details and contacts are up to date.”
The theme for Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week this year is ‘family discussion’. A third of Australians have not discussed organ and tissue donation with their family and Australia’s current national family consent rate for organ donation to proceed is just 56 per cent.
“If you plan to be an organ donor, it’s important that your family know and accept your wishes as they will be asked to give their consent for the donation to proceed,” Mr Butler said.
“That’s why as part of the new DonateLife™ program, we are encouraging Australians to discover the facts about donation, decide whether you want to become a donor and discuss your decision with your family.”
The Australian Organ Donor Register is administered by Medicare Australia. Authorised medical personnel can access the register 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia.
To check or update your organ donor registration phone 1800 777 203 or visit your local Medicare office.
For more information about the Australian Organ Donor Register or to register your decision go to www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.
For more information about organ and tissue donation go to www.donatelife.gov.au.
Attachment
| State/territory | Total* |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 51,000 |
| New South Wales | 2,328,000 |
| Northern Territory | 17,000 |
| Queensland | 912,000 |
| South Australia | 687,000 |
| Tasmania | 187,000 |
| Victoria | 764,000 |
| Western Australia | 678,000 |
| Australia | 5.6 million |
Media Contact
Laura Stevens (Minister Bowen) — 0432 833 769
Lisa Sedgwick (Parliamentary Secretary) — 0421 444 959
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