Promote DonateLife Week in your newsletter or on your website.

The below text could be used in your organisation's printed or online newsletters, websites or intranets. You could also use it for a staff information session over a morning tea.

DONATELIFE WEEK 24 FEBRUARY – 3 MARCH 2013
MAKE YOUR WISH COUNT. DISCOVER, DECIDE AND DISCUSS ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION.

[Your organisation] is getting behind DonateLife Week this year, to help raise awareness of the need for us all to Discover, Decide and Discuss organ and tissue donation.

Did you know that around 1% of all hospital deaths occur in the specific circumstances where a person can be considered for organ donation?

1 in 2 Australians do not know that few of us will actually have the chance to become an organ donor, although many more can become tissue donors. When people become aware of this fact, the overwhelming majority (84%) are more motivated to decide they would like to become a donor.

As an organ and tissue donor, you could transform the lives of 10 or more people. But to make your wish count, we all need to discover the facts about organ and tissue donation and to register our decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

And to make every wish count, every Australian family needs to know each other’s wishes. This is because in Australia the family of every potential donor is always asked to confirm the donation wishes of their loved one before organ and/or tissue donation can proceed.

During DonateLife Week, Sunday 24 February – Sunday 3 March 2013, take some time to share your wish with your family and close friends, and ask them about their wishes.

To help encourage more Australians to discuss organ and tissue donation, [organisation] will be [insert details of any activities your organisation may be involved in during DonateLife Week including date, venue and booking details].

"Any day this week is a good day to have the conversation with your family and close friends. It's a conversation that will help you be prepared, should you ever be asked to confirm a loved one's donation wishes. It will also help your family be prepared should they ever be asked to confirm your wishes. It's a conversation that could one day save lives,” said [Your organisation’s spokesperson].

Although 77% of Australians have now talked about organ and tissue donation with their family, and 71% of people believe that their family knows their donation wishes, only 56% of Australians say that they know the donation wishes of their loved ones. This highlights the need for all Australians to remind their family members’ about their donation wishes as well as to ask and know the wishes of family members.

"Some Australians find it difficult to bring up the subject of organ and tissue donation with family members. Deciding to have the discussion during DonateLife Week can help normalise the subject and make it OK to talk about", said [spokesperson].

DonateLife Week is Australia's national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation. It is led by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of the national DonateLife campaign and supported by community events and activities across Australia.

For more information www.donatelife.gov.au

ENDS

Engage the media

You can adapt the below media release template for your local workplace, sporting or community organisation and issue to local media to generate awareness about DonateLife Week 2013.

[ORGANISATION NAME] SUPPORTS DONATELIFE WEEK 2013
ACT NOW TO MAKE YOUR ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION WISH COUNT

[Organisation] today announced its support for DonateLife Week 2013, Australia's national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation.

[Spokesperson] today said, “Many people aren’t aware that around 1% of hospital deaths occur in the specific circumstances where a person can be considered for organ donation, although many more have the opportunity to become a tissue donor.”

When people become aware of this fact, the overwhelming majority (84%) are more motivated to decide they would like to become an organ and tissue donor.

“The rarity of the possibility of organ donation for transplantation is why every Australian needs to ensure their family members know their donation wishes, so that we can optimise every opportunity for Australians to have access to life-transforming transplants,” [Spokesperson] said

To help encourage more Australians to discuss organ and tissue donation, [organisation] will be [insert details of any activities your organisation may be involved in during DonateLife Week including date, venue and booking details].

During DonateLife Week, Sunday 24 February – Sunday 3 March 2013, all Australians are encouraged to make their organ and tissue donation wish count.

[Spokesperson] said “To make every wish count, every Australian family needs to know each other’s wishes. This is because in Australia the family of every potential donor is always asked to confirm the donation wishes of their loved one before organ and/or tissue donation can proceed.

We are urging all Australians to take time during DonateLife Week to discover, decide and discuss organ and tissue donation so that your family can make your wish count should they ever be asked to confirm your donation wish.”

Although 77% of Australians have now talked about organ and tissue donation with their family, and 71% of people believe that their family knows their donation wishes, only 56% of Australians say that they know the donation wishes of their loved ones. This highlights the need for all Australians to remind their family members’ about their donation wishes as well as to ask and know the wishes of family members.

"Any day this week is a good day to have the conversation with your family and close friends. It's a conversation that will help you be prepared, should you ever be asked to confirm a loved one's donation wishes. It will also help your family be prepared should they ever be asked to confirm your wishes. It's a conversation that could one day save lives.”

"Some Australians find it difficult to bring up the subject of organ and tissue donation with family members. Deciding to have the discussion during DonateLife Week can help normalise the subject and make it OK to talk about", said [spokesperson].

DonateLife Week is Australia's national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation. It is led by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of the national DonateLife campaign and supported by community events and activities across Australia.

For more information: www.donatelife.gov.au or [organisation name and contact details]    

ENDS/