Transplant Australia

Transplant Australia today welcomes the new National Strategy for Organ Donation, Retrieval and Transplantation announced by the Assistant Minister for Health, The Hon. Ged Kearney. The overall strategy aims to provide a roadmap for future success with priority areas in ensuring a national approach for all transplant services, better equitable access to transplantation for Indigenous Australians and those in regional areas, improved transplant capability and outcomes and enhanced systems. An important area Transplant Australia has focused on – improving post-transplant care services to help people adjust to a life with a transplant – has been formally recognised in the strategy. Transplant Australia congratulates Minister Kearney and all state and territory governments to committing to this strategy and looks forward to working with Governments to help implement it so that more Australians have access to transplantation and quality post-transplantation care to help them live life well. The strategy is available at: https://lnkd.in/g4ZP6M2B Australian Organ and Tissue Authority Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

And that’s a wrap! After a weeklong celebration of life through sport, the 17th Australian Transplant Games officially came to a close on Sunday 6 October.    Over 7 days, nearly 500 competitors from around Australia represented their states and showcased their talents in 19 different sports, ranging from lawn bowls and pétanque to athletics and cycling.    The Games provided an opportunity for both elite and recreational athletes to come together and compete on a national stage. The Games encouraged transplant recipients to improve their health and fitness while showcasing the life-changing benefits of organ donation.   Most importantly, the Games were an opportunity for recipients, their families, living donors and donor families to come together and see they are not alone in their journey and amongst Transplant Australia are caring members of our community committed to supporting everyone.   A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers, team managers, sports coordinators, and every participant who made these Games possible. We hope you’ve left the Games with memories to cherish for a lifetime.    Transplant Australia would like to thank the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority, Official Partner of the Games, along with the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute Of Sport and Astellas Pharma for their support.   To read more about the 2024 Australian Transplant Games visit, https://lnkd.in/ggq7D_nd

'Everywhere' Film - capturing the essence of the Transplant Games Ahead of its much-anticipated World Premiere later this month, The Periscope Crew was proud to share ‘Everywhere’ with the transplant community at an exclusive screening at Parliament House, in Canberra as part of the Australian Transplant Games. ‘Everywhere’ follows the remarkable journey of The Periscope Crew, a film crew of passionate young people with disabilities, as they take on their biggest challenge – capturing the ‘essence of the World Transplant Games in Perth last year. The documentary moved the audience to laughter, tears and a standing ovation – a tribute to the Crew’s dedication, and the pride and gratitude felt by so many in the room. If you missed the exclusive screening, don’t worry. There’s another chance to see ‘Everywhere’ at its World Premiere at the Australia Independent Film Festival in Brisbane on Saturday 26 October 2024, at 3.30pm. To find out more visit, https://lnkd.in/gHiitd7Q Tickets are selling fast – you have been warned! To read more about the exclusive screening at the Australian Transplant Games visit, https://lnkd.in/gyX6J5SD Catherine Kolomyjec World Transplant Games Federation

As the Transplant Football World Cup continues in Italy, is it time to recognise just a few of the people responsible for pulling together such a brilliant group of transplant recipients to represent Australia. As we said at the start of the tournament ‘win, lose or draw’ every team member are already winners in our eyes. A big thank you to Ante Kelic for his leadership both on and off the field as the Chair of the Transplant Australia Football Club. Thanks also to Matt Zoppos for his committee role and organising a brilliant playing strip. Cam Milne is an inspirational coach and it has been brilliant looking at his videos critiquing each match. Liam Woods as Captain leads from the front and was a great choice in this role. Monty Summers as strength and conditioning coach had all the players ready for a few gruelling days. Thanks to Kate Clark for her role as Team Manager. Transplant Australia is lucky to have Kate working with us. The Professional Footballers Association and Weet-Bix were also wonderful in helping to support the team along with the hundreds of people who donated to help the players make the tournament. And finally let’s not forget all the supporters who travelled with the team. We hope you have had the time of your lives. Chris Thomas CEO and the Board of Transplant Australia

The Games in The House! The Australian Transplant Games was the focus of the Parliamentary Friends of Organ Donation in Canberra this morning. More than 40 members of our community, including transplant recipients, donor families and living donors, met at Parliament House for a breakfast to promote the 17th Games which will be held in Canberra, October 1 to 6. Transplant Australia was granted an exclusive opportunity to meet in the beautiful Speaker's Courtyard, courtesy of Speaker, Milton Dick MP. Thanks to Friends' Co-Chairs, Dr Anne Webster MP and Dr Mike Freelander MP and all the MPs who attended. We introduced three faces of the Games, Mick Kennedy, Ariana Ford and John Lafferty. The Assistant Minister for Health, The Hon Ged Kearney, spoke of her love of attending last year's World Transplant Games in Perth and her admiration of the work of Transplant Australia. Minister Kearney will open the Games in Canberra on October 2. It was brilliant to see friendly faces, Tony and Vicki Bellingham, Laurie and Marguerite Wiseman and Bradley Stanely who were instrumental in delivering the first Games in Canberra in 2010. It was wonderful CEO of the Organ & Tissue Authority, Lucinda Barry AM, representatives from Canberra Hospital, Donatelife ACT and living donor Brett Barton and wife Jodie could attend as well as David Cain and Nirelle Tolstoshev from Astellas. To read more visit https://lnkd.in/gmCz6xCQ

Research Invitation: Transplant recipients and physical activity - what is important to you? Online today, Thursday 29 August, 7pm (AEST). You're invited to attend an online event to hear about the latest research on transplant recipients' experience of physical activity and have your say on what is important to you as a transplant recipient. Your views will help to improve the way information and services are provided to transplant recipients, medical professionals, and family members. When: Thursday 29th August 7pm (AEST) Book your free space now, https://lnkd.in/d7j2y-GB

Behind the staging of the World Transplant Games in Perth in 2023 was a brilliant young team of Aussies filming the sports and capturing the stories of the lives saved by the gift of life. The Periscope Crew, a passionate team of young Australians with disabilities, totally shone in their role as the official media crew for the Games. Their experiences have now been turned into a brilliant documentary, 'Everywhere' which has just been shortlisted for a prestigious sports film festival in Italy. Congratulations, we hope your participation in the games and this documentary opens more doors for you to flourish and share your talents. Here's the trailer: https://lnkd.in/gp8uSy69 #donatelife #worldtransplantgames #wtgf

Transplant Australia today welcomes an announcement by the Federal Government that the Australian Law Reform Commission will establish an inquiry into human tissue laws across Australia. Transplant Australia, the national charity for donation and transplantation, agrees with the Organ & Tissue Authority and other leading stakeholders that the law underpinning organ and tissue donation in Australia has not kept pace with social, technological and scientific changes. Transplant Australia CEO, Chris Thomas, congratulated the Attorney General, The Hon. Mark Dreyfus KC and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Ged Kearney MP, for prioritising this review. To read Transplant Australia's full statement click the link below. https://lnkd.in/gh_zaqmM

DonateLife Week is a brilliant opportunity to promote organ and tissue donation to all Australians. Transplant Australia Life Member, Juile Edwards, was a guest speaker at the Saree Enthusiasts lunch in Sydney on Sunday at the start of DonateLife Week. Almost 200 guests attended, celebrating India’s culture through the saree, while supporting ethical donation programs in India. The relationship was sparked by Anil Srivatsa’s participation in the World Transplant Games in Perth last year.  Anil, a living donor, travelled to Perth as part of his round-the-world odyssey promoting the gift of life. It’s wonderful to see Anil’s work recognised by Rotary magazine. The lunch supported the Rotary Club of Organ Donation and raised funds for the Gift of Life Adventure Foundation’s Lift Up Project in India. #makethemostoflife #DonateLifeWeek2024

Last week Transplant Australia's Sport, Physical Activity and Participation Manager, Emmy O'Neill attended the Australian Sports Commission Participation Leaders Network (PLN) Annual Conference in Melbourne Victoria.   Over two days, sports participation leaders from a variety of National Sporting Organisations, along with members from the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD) and government, engaged in a series of professional development, learnings and experiences. Focusing on the Play Well Strategy, increasing sport sector collaboration, diversity and inclusion, the importance of data and ensuring every Australian has a place in sport. A few highlights included - A keynote presentation by Annabelle Williams OAM PLY 'Empowering a growth mindset through grit and determination.' - Beck Hamilton from Judo Australia and Alex Anasson's from AusTriathlon presentation on positive, collaborative and strategic participation plans. - Tahlia Taylor-Kickett and Jax Compton Shared a Yarn around belonging, honesty, sport, community wellness and community. - Rochelle Eime from Federation University of Australia presenting on the 'Challenging Traditional Modes of Sports Delivery'. - And an introduction to behavioural insight by Caitlin C. and Taya Jackson from The Behavioural Insights Team.   Everyone at the two-day PLN conference was buzzing with positivity around the Play Well Strategy and increasing participation in sport and physical activity for all Australians.   Thank you to the Participation Growth team at the ASC for hosting such an invaluable conference allowing the sports sector to connect and collaborate with each other to ensure every Australia has a place in sport.