Donate Life: It takes just one minute to become an organ donor

People across NSW are being urged to “donate a minute, donate a lifetime”, because one minute is all it takes to register as an organ and tissue donor.

Anyone aged 16 and over can register online to become an organ donor in just one minute on the Service NSW website or with three taps in the Medicare app.

For those who think they’re already registered, it takes just one minute to double-check.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said DonateLife Week is the perfect time to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor.

“NSW has the highest rate of registrations on the Australian organ donor registry but opportunities for transplants are often missed because families are uncertain of their loved one’s wish to be a donor,” Mr Park said.

“Organ donation saves lives and increasing awareness and consent is critical to lifting our donation rate."

“There are around 1,800 people on the organ waitlist and to help them we need more Australians to register and tell their families they want to be a donor.”

A total of 54,769 NSW residents registered as organ and tissue donors in 2022, bringing the total number registered to 2,670,875.

Around 42 per cent of the NSW population has registered to be a donor, well above the national average of 36 per cent.

In Australia, families are always asked to support someone’s decision to be a donor before donation goes ahead.

Families are much more likely to agree if their loved one is registered and they knew their loved one wanted to be a donor.

The NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service will officially launch DonateLife Week on Monday at Campbelltown Hospital.

The South-West Sydney Local Health District, which includes Campbelltown and surrounds, has one of the highest end-of-life notification rates in NSW, which helps identify potential donors.

Local MP and Member for Camden, Sally Quinnell, said every Australian can make a difference by choosing to become an organ donor and telling their family of their wish.

“One organ donor can save up to seven lives, along with helping many other people through the gift of eye and tissue donation,” Ms Quinnell said

New data from the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR) reveals the top five local government areas in NSW where the most people are registered as donors:

• Bellingen (61 per cent)
• Blue Mountains (60 per cent)
• Mosman & Weddin (59 per cent)
• Kiama, Lockhart, Ballina, Eurobodalla, Murrumbidgee, Yass Valley & Bega Valley (58 per cent)
• Edward River, Federation, Lake Macquarie, Lismore (57 per cent)