The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the new Australian Organ and Tissue Authority have launched a new national program to help educate Australian families about organ and tissue donation and their power to save lives.

The new program is aimed to help people like Canberra mother of two, Liz Fowler, who was struck down by kidney failure and is desperately waiting for an organ or tissue transplant.

Ms Fowler’s story is remarkable because not only has she been on dialysis for more than six years and battled kidney disease for 20, but her son is severely autistic and almost three years ago was diagnosed with cancer.

“My house looks like a hospital. I went on to home dialysis, which is five nights a week, eight hours at a time when my son was diagnosed with cancer and I had to help him recover from chemo,” Liz said.

“I have to think about anything I drink because I am in renal failure and this could cause heart failure.”

Liz now desperately wants a transplant to not only save her own life but so she can hopefully see her daughter Amy compete at the Olympics after she won a rowing scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport.

“I really want people to become organ donors because I just want to be a normal mum and stay alive,” she said.

Liz’s heartfelt story is just one reason why the Prime Minister and the new Australian Organ and Tissue Authority have launched a multi-pronged assault on the Australian Capital Territories low donation rates.

The DonateLife Family public awareness program, backed up by a new workforce of medical specialists called the DonateLife Network, will empower Australians to discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, make an informed decision and discuss their wishes with their family.

The Prime Minister’s family has become the first DonateLife Family. A DonateLife Family is a family that has had a discussion and knows each other’s wishes about organ donation.

“We have made the decision to become a DonateLife Family because we know the importance of knowing each other’s wishes about organ donation,” the Prime Minister said.

“We can save many more Australian lives if we make sure families talk about the decision to donate life through organ and tissue donation. That is why I invite all Australians to discuss organ donation and become a DonateLife Family.”

National Medical Director Dr Gerry O’Callaghan today urged families in the ACT to sign up online and become a DonateLife Family.

“Many Australians (40%) are not aware that even if they are registered as a donor, it is their family that will be asked to give consent for donation to take place,” Dr O’Callaghan said.

“35% of Australians have not discussed organ donation with their family or partner and we know that families who know their loved one’s wishes are highly likely to uphold them.”

State Medical Director Dr Imogen Mitchell said the ACT had just 9 donors per million people despite the fact that 90% of Australians support organ and tissue donation.

“The ACT’s donation rates are below the national average of 12 donors per million and are lagging behind most countries in the Western World,” Dr Mitchell said.

“So far this year across the nation, 189 generous organ donors have given a new chance at life for 608 Australians. Of these donors, seven were from the ACT.

“A further 1700 Australians on official transplant waiting lists continue a difficult wait for a life-saving transplant (1718 at 6 October 2009).

“When families are approached only 56% consent to donation and we are determined to urgently improve this.”

The DonateLife Network is the cornerstone of the Australian Government’s $151.1 million national reform agenda and is made up of more than 300 dedicated professionals, including 91 new FTE doctors and nurses at 75 hospitals across the nation. This includes two new doctors and nurses at the Canberra Hospital.

“We’re seeking to improve consent on two fronts – firstly, by asking families to learn their loved ones wishes and secondly, through bolstering organ donation expertise in hospitals,” Dr Mitchell said.

“Evidence shows family consent rates improve when the clinician talking to the family about donation is more experienced, informed and supportive of donation.

“Our new specialist workforce of highly trained doctors and nurses will be working to ensure donation is a routine part of end-of-life patient care and that every potential donor is identified and their families asked about donation in a sensitive and respectful way.”

DonateLife is the new brand and name for the national network of organ donor agencies that will deliver the message that every Australian has the potential to save lives.

Chief Executive Officer of the Authority Karen Murphy said this is the first time that Australia has had a nationally coordinated and consistent network of agencies.

“We want every Australian to discover the facts about organ donation, to decide through informed choice to become an organ donor and to discuss with family and friends so that they know each other’s wishes,” said Ms Murphy.

“We are improving our support for families in hospitals to help them make the decision that is right for them.

“We are also encouraging Australians to have the discussion about donation well before any opportunity to donate should arise, so they are better prepared and can make the call to donate with confidence.”

Dr O’Callaghan said the Authority is determined to help as many people as possible.

“Increasing the number of organ donors will help make transplantation possible for more seriously ill Australians. This now requires a public commitment because transplantation is touching the lives of more and more Australians,” he said.

To support Australians in having this important discussion, the new DonateLife website www.donatelife.gov.au features a section that provides supporting materials for family discussion, including a downloadable DonateLife Family certificate.

The certificate can be used to keep a record of each other’s wishes. It is not a legal document; it is a simple way to help people to remember the decisions of loved ones.

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Please note: Photos/vision and interviews about the DonateLife Family public awareness programof the DonateLife Network in action are available upon request.Interviews with families affected as well as with the State Medical Director are also available.For media resources and more information about organ and tissue donation and to become aDonateLife Family visit www.donatelife.gov.auMedia contacts:Name: Shaun RigbyPh: 07 3251 8140Mobile: 0438 021 936Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it