THE ULTIMATE ZERO WASTE GIFT – ORGAN DONATION
There are important conversations to have with loved ones that are not always easy to have. End of life decisions are confronting for some but can be completely transformative.
Imagine supporting your loved ones by making powerful choices yourself about your wishes in advance.
Four in five Australians say they support organ donation, but only 36 per cent are registered to be a donor.
We remember a time when it was very straightforward to make our choice known regarding organ donation but, unless you live in South Australia, you can no longer register to be a donor when applying for your driver’s license.
The good news is, being sure you are registered takes less than a minute. In fact, both of us checked during the writing of this article to be pleasantly surprised we were already signed up.
Why Register to Donate?
The frank answer is, you will not be needing those organs when your time on this earthly plane is done.
Your donation can save multiple lives, and potentially bring additional comfort to your loved ones. Up to seven lives can be saved by a single organ donor.
The Organ and Tissue Authority, on behalf of the Australian Government, leads the national program to increase organ and tissue donation, in partnership with DonateLife Network.
Is There Really Such a Huge Need?
Over 1,800 Australians are currently waitlisted for organ transplant and over 14,000 are on dialysis and may need a kidney transplant.
Since the program began, in 2009, 18,144 people have received lifesaving organ transplants from 6,417 deceased organ donors.
Time is of the essence in these situations, and having this decision handled in advance gives you the opportunity to make a greater difference.
It also removes what can be an agonizing guessing game for your loved ones, figuring out what you would really want.
How To Register
Visit www.donatelife.gov.au to register. All you need is your Medicare card.
Alternatively, go to the mygov app to update your organ donation information within Medicare. You can also download Form NH007DF from mygov.
How Else Can I Become Involved?
Register and tell your loved ones of your wishes.
Encourage others to consider becoming a donor.
Initiate a registration drive in your community group.
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