Most Australians support organ and tissue donation

This wish to help others becomes a reality if Australians learn about organ and tissue donation and make the decision to become a donor. Families also need to know the wishes of the potential donor. This means discussing, understanding and accepting each family member's decision. If families are unaware of their deceased loved one's decision about organ and tissue donation, they are less likely to give consent for donation. Families also need to know individuals' wishes about tissue donation.

Even if you are registered as an organ donor, your family will still be asked to confirm your wishes and give their consent. It's important that they know your wishes.

The chance to save lives

Around 1600 Australians are waiting for a life-saving or life-improving transplant. Sadly, people die waiting for the gift of a heart, liver, kidney, lung or pancreas transplant.

For many others, the wait means long weeks or months in hospital or several trips to hospital every week for treatment such as dialysis. For some, it means being attached to an oxygen tank 24 hours a day. One organ and tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of 10 people or more.

Australia's record of successful transplants is among the best in the world. In 2011, 1001 Australians received transplants from 337 donors. Our challenge is to continue to increase that number - and help those on the waiting list.

Few people die in such a way that they can be organ donors - only about 1-2% of people who die in hospital will be eligible to donate their organs. In recent years in Australia and internationally strong safety laws and effective health services have reduced the number of people suffering fatal brain injuries. Therefore it is very important to identify all potential donors and support their families to make informed decisions about donation.

We want Australians to discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, to make an informed decision about their choice to become a donor and to encourage their family members to know each others' wishes. The family's consent will always be requested.

Who can donate?

• Almost everyone can help others through organ and tissue donation.
• The governing factors are where and how a donor dies and the condition of their organs and tissue.
• All major religions support organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
• The aged and people with chronic health conditions can be donors. Only a few medical conditions preclude donation of organs.
• People can also donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive, though this is usually restricted to those wanting to save the life of someone they know.
• A donor's gift and a patient's hopes are in good hands. Australia has a world class reputation for successful transplant outcomes.

A question of timing

Timing is critical. Tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after death, irrespective of where or how the donor died. The tissues are stored and called on when needed.

Organ donors must have died while in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital and on a ventilator that keeps their organs functioning artificially for a limited time. Most organ donors suffer a stroke or bleeding in the brain or have an accident or head trauma that causes brain death.

The very nature of these circumstances means there is usually no chance to discuss donation with the person, leaving the decision to the family. It is much easier for the family to make the decision if they know the wishes of their loved one.

Family support

Families faced with giving consent to organ and tissue donation are dealing with loss and grief. Under such circumstances they can be helped by knowing that their family member wished to benefit others.

Families are given appropriate time and organ donation information. They are given support by trained DonateLife organ donor coordinators and receive, at no cost, bereavement support by professional counsellors.