Australian Organ and Tissue Authority

The National Strategy for Organ Donation, Retrieval and Transplantation was released today by The Hon Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health. It was developed in consultation with the OTA, all state and territory governments and the clinical and community sectors, after a comprehensive review of Australia’s donation, retrieval and transplantation system. It has 4 key priorities:    1. National coordination of the end-to-end system. 2. Equitable access for all Australians that need a transplant, including for people living in rural and regional Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.    3. Enhanced organ retrieval and transplantation capability and capacity. 4. Better systems for data collection and reporting. Building on the success of the DonateLife program, the Strategy provides a roadmap for future growth in the system, giving hope to the 1,800 Australians on the organ transplant waitlist and 14,000 more on dialysis, many of whom may benefit from a kidney transplant. With the Strategy endorsed by all Australian Governments, we look forward to working collaboratively with governments, key stakeholders and the community to enact it. Read more about the Strategy in the Assistant Minister’s media release: https://lnkd.in/gBrxT_DP

We’ve collaborated with Services Australia to add a digital version of the organ donor card to the myGov app wallet. You can easily store and access your card, while also managing your donation preferences. Services Australia is an important partner helping increase organ and tissue donation rates in Australia, so that more people can receive a life-saving transplant. Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care the Hon. Ged Kearney MP, joined Minister for Government Services and the NDIS the Hon. Bill Shorten MP Shorten MP, at Newmarket Service Centre today to announce the digital donor card. The Assistant Minister reminded all Australians that it’s a timely opportunity to start conversations with their family about organ and tissue donation. While you don’t need to carry the card to become a donor, it’s a great way to show your family that you’re registered and that you want to be a donor. It only takes a minute to register at donatelife.gov.au or using your Medicare online account in myGov. Then, once you’ve registered, add your donor card to the myGov app wallet so you have a visual reminder of your registration and to tell your family. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gRTyghcG #DonateLife #OrganDonorCard #ServicesAustralia #myGov

Do you have an amazing idea that could help spread the word about organ and tissue donation in Australia? 💡 We’re looking for new DonateLife community partners in 2025 to help us raise awareness and encourage people to register as organ and tissue donors. We want to target Australians who support organ and tissue donation, but are unaware of how or why they need to register as organ and tissue donors. ❤️ Up to $600,000 in grants are available to host local DonateLife Week 2025 events or activities, create digital content, and develop national marketing or public relations strategies. Applications are open now until Monday 18 November 4:00 pm AEDST. Find out how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/g7bnbvzq 

Created by Aboriginal health workers in Alice Springs, the ‘Giving Life’ animations are helping to educate Central Australian Aboriginal communities about organ and tissue donation. Designed, written and narrated by Aboriginal Liaison Officers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners, with support from the Alice Springs Hospital ( Northern Territory Government ), the animations were made as part of an Organ and Tissue Authority Community Awareness Grant. They’re available in 4 different versions, with content in English and Arrernte, Pitjantjatjarra or Warlpiri. To watch the different versions of ‘Giving Life’, visit the DonateLife YouTube page: https://lnkd.in/gABNiijS #DonateLife #OrganandTissueDonation #Arrernte #Pitjantjatjarra #Warlpiri

We absolutely loved seeing all your photos and videos supporting Saffron Day today! Thank you to everyone who wore saffron and chatted about organ and tissue donation with their friends and family 🧡 Remember, it only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor, and up to 7 lives can be saved by a single organ donor. Visit www.donatelife.gov.au to register now 🧡 #SaffronDay #DoItForDeyaan #DonateLife #OrganAndTissueDonation

Do you have an amazing idea that could help spread the word about organ and tissue donation in Australia? 💡 We’re looking for new DonateLife community partners in 2025 to help us raise awareness and encourage people to register as organ and tissue donors. We want to target Australians who support organ and tissue donation, but are unaware of how or why they need to register as organ and tissue donors. ❤️ Up to $600,000 in grants are available to host local DonateLife Week 2025 events or activities, create digital content, and develop national marketing or public relations strategies. Applications are open now until Monday 18 November 4:00 pm AEDST. Find out how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/g7bnbvzq 

It’s Saffron Day 🧡 Show your support today by wearing something saffron, then talk to your family about your decision to be an organ and tissue donor. Saffron Day honours Deyaan Udani, who became an organ donor at age 7 and saved 4 lives – all because he had a conversation with his family about organ and tissue donation after learning about it at school. Share your pics wearing saffron today! Tag @DonateLife and use the hashtag #DoItForDeyaan 🧡 To learn more about Saffron Day and how to take part, visit: https://lnkd.in/gD5JKWEy #SaffronDay #DonateLife #OrganDonation #OrganAndTissueDonation

Saffron Day, held annually on October 22, is a special day in the DonateLife calendar. The Udani family created Saffron Day to honour their son Deyaan, who became an organ donor at 7-years-old. Saffron Day encourages people to wear or display something saffron or orange and talk to their family about their decision to be an organ and tissue donor. Our DonateLife community partner, SRMD Australia, runs Saffron Day and does important work throughout the year to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation in their local community. We’re so happy to be able to work with organisations like SRMD Australia to spread the word about organ and tissue donation, so that more Australians can receive a life-saving transplant. Join us on Tuesday October 22 to mark Saffron Day. For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/gD5JKWEy #SaffronDay #DonateLife #OrganDonation #OrganAndTissueDonation

Do you know a young person who would be interested in making a short film about organ/tissue donation? In 2013, the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority sponsored a film competition, and the winning film by Brooke Huuskes (below) was viewed 10,000 times! If you, or anyone you know, would like to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation in 2024, and experience the potential fame of 10,000 people watching your film, follow this link: https://lnkd.in/gpwAGu4f #organdonation #donatelife #filmmakers https://lnkd.in/gAcjvEtm

Diane’s vision started deteriorating in high school, when she had trouble seeing the blackboard. She was soon diagnosed with a condition called keratoconus. After 40 years of wearing hard contacts, she needed her first corneal transplant. Less than 2 years later, she received a second corneal transplant. Suddenly, Diane could see leaves on the trees! She says, ‘My family was amused, as I now felt the need to sweep the floor or wipe down kitchen benches. And how did I suddenly get so many wrinkles on my face?’  For Diane, the corneal transplants meant the difference between losing sight of her world and learning to play piano, graduate from university and behold the beauty of her grandchildren. Each year, the lives of thousands of Australians are saved and transformed through eye and tissue transplantation. Visit our website to read more about Diane’s story, and register as an organ and tissue donor today: https://ow.ly/wRPt50TAKUi #donatelife #tissuedonation #Keratoconus #organandtissuedonation