p>A day of activities has been organised for the Lake Wendouree foreshore on Sunday, March 3, to help raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today one organ and tissue donor can potentially save or transform the lives of more than 10 people.
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A day of activities has been organised for the Lake Wendouree foreshore on Sunday, March 3, to help raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today one organ and tissue donor can potentially save or transform the lives of more than 10 people.
In her capacity as Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Ms King has responsibility for the national Organ and Tissue Authority which is charged with implementing strategies to lift organ and tissue donation and transplantation rates in Australia.
“It is vital that we continue to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation so that we can lift the transplantation rates across the country and save more lives,” Ms King said.
In 2012, the generosity of 354 organ donors and their families who agreed to donation gave 1,052 Australians a second chance at life.
“While we were aiming for an even greater increase during 2012, it is significant that we have continued the rise in the donation and transplantation rates,” Ms King said.
In November last year Australia achieved the highest monthly deceased organ donation outcome since national records began, with 45 deceased organ donors providing life-transforming transplants for 141 Australians.
Ballarat Health Services (BHS) DonateLife nurse Jo Forteath said it is important that people make their wishes on organ donation known to their families.
“If your family members know how you feel about organ donation it makes it possible for them to uphold your wishes,” Ms Forteath said.
“Unfortunately too many Australians are unsure of how their loved ones feel about organ donation.”
The day of activities on March 3, focussed on the MacDonald Bandstand at Lake Wendouree, begins at 10 am and will feature local speakers, a community walk and a chance for people to talk to those who have been involved in organ donation.
The theme for DonateLife Week 2013 is “make your wish count”.
Organ and tissue donation facts
- One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people.
- Australia is a world leader for successful transplant outcomes.
- Around 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists.
- In 2011, 337 organ donors gave 1009 Australians a new chance in life.
- In Australia the family will always be asked to confirm the donation wishes of the deceased before donation can proceed.
- The majority of Australians are generally willing to become organ (80%) and tissue (78%) donors.
- However, less than 2% of people who die in hospital will be eligible to donate their organs. Many more people can become eye and tissue donors as tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after death regardless of where death occurred.
- Australia’s family consent rate is low, with less than 60% of families giving consent for organ and tissue donation to proceed.
- The majority of Australians (92%) that are aware of their family members’ wishes indicate that they would uphold those wishes.
- The majority of Australians (81%) recognise it is important to discuss their donation wishes with the people close to them.
- Nearly 2 in 3 Australians (58%) 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.
- 77% of Australians have discussed their donation wishes with their family.
- 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.