Organ, eye & tissue donation facts

• One organ, eye and tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of 10 or more people.
• Australia is a world leader for successful transplant outcomes, yet has one of the lowest donation rates in the developed world.
• Around 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists.
• On average, people on the transplant list can wait between 6 months and 4 years.
• To lift donation rates the Australian Government, with State and Territory Governments, has implemented a national reform package, 'A World's Best Practice Approach to Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation'.
• The initial focus for reform in 2009 involved reform of the hospital system in terms of identifying potential donors. To do this, the Australian Government funds 160 dedicated doctors and nurses in 77 hospitals to work specifically on organ, eye and tissue donation (as at 30 Septemer 2011). These positions are now in place, as part of the national DonateLife Network which also includes a further 72 staff such as State Medical Directors, Organ Donor Coordinators and Donor Family Support Coordinators.
• In 2011, 337 organ donors gave 1001 Australians a new chance in life.
• The number of organ donors and transplant recipients in 2011 was the highest since national records began.
• Complementing the significant progress made in the clinical sector, Australia needs more active engagement and awareness within the community to increase Australia's consent rate.
• In Australia the family will always be asked to confirm the donation wishes of the deceased before donation for transplantation can proceed.
• The Australian Government's national reform strategy includes actions to increase community engagement and awareness in relation to organ and tissue donation.
• The majority of Australians are generally willing to become organ (79%) and tissue (76%) donors.
• Australia's family consent rate is low, with less than 60% of families giving consent for organ and tissue donation to proceed.
• The most important thing that helps a family's decision is their knowing the wishes of their loved one.
• 43% of Australians do not know or are not sure of the donation wishes of their loved ones.
• The majority of Australians (93%) that are aware of their family members' wishes agree and support these wishes.
• The majority of Australians (82%) recognise it is important to discuss their donation wishes with the people close to them.
• Nearly 2 in 3 Australians (60%) have had a discussion with their loved ones about their donation wishes in the past 12 months, with 81% indicating that the discussion was memorable.
• Every family making the decision about whether to agree to a donation proceeding is now able to receive dedicated support from DonateLife Donor Family Support Coordinators, whether or not donation proceeds.
• The quality of care for a potential donor at the end of his or her life, and the wishes of their family, is always the foremost consideration of those involved, and is never compromised by the potential for organ, eye and tissue donation.

 For an overview of organ and tissue donation and transplantation activity in Australia the performance updates and report cards section of our website.