The number of Australian organ donors increased last year as more than 1300 people received transplants, despite family consent dropping.
The latest Australian Donation and Transplantation Activity Report shows 1328 lives were either saved or significantly improved in 2024, thanks to 527 deceased organ donors.
Federal Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney said that represented a three percent increase in the number of organ donors from 2023.
“However, the number of families that said yes to donation in the hospital remains low, with a two percent drop compared to 2023, where 55 percent of families agreed,” Ms Kearney said.
She said increasing the number of people and families who said yes to donation was critical.
“For around 1800 Australians on organ transplant waitlists, and an additional 14,000 Australians on dialysis, many who may benefit from a transplant, this would be life changing.”
Ms Kearney said the Organ and Tissue Authority led the national DonateLife program, focused on boosting the number of donors by building support in the community and optimising opportunities in the hospital.
She said encouraging more Australians to register as organ and tissue donors was another way to help more people received a life-saving transplant.
“Your family will always be asked to agree before donation goes ahead, so it’s important to leave them certain that you want to be donor.
“We know around 8 in 10 families say yes to donation if their family member is registered. This drops to 4 in 10 if their family didn’t know they wanted to be a donor.”
Ms Kearney said to register and tell family that you wanted to be an organ and tissue donor visit donatelife.gov.au.
