Local organisations are invited to share in $430,000 for community-based campaigns to encourage more people to registering as organ and tissue donors.
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Senator Nigel Scullion said the money was available from the Federal Government.
Senator Scullion said applications are invited for activities to be conducted during DonateLife Week 2018 (Sunday 29 July – Sunday 5 August), or for other targeted awareness and education activities during the year which focus on specific local audiences.
“With organ donation now fully embedded in our national health system, we need even more community participation to help us achieve further growth in organ and tissue donation, to save and improve more lives,” Senator Scullion said.
“Online registration is now almost instant, at donatelife.gov.au. Though it takes just a minute, it can make a lifetime of difference to a person in need of a new organ or tissue.”
In 2017, 1675 lives were saved and improved through the generosity of 510 deceased organ donors and their families and 273 living donors. A further 9600 Australians benefited from tissue donation last year.
While Australia has more than doubled the number of deceased organ donors, and saved more than 10,000 lives since the national program began in 2009, the national consent rate remains at around 60 per cent.
“To increase donation outcomes, we need to raise consent rates and this can be achieved by more families discussing this potentially life-changing and lifesaving issue and registering to be donors,” Senator Scullion said.
“In 90 percent of cases last year, families consented to organ donation when the deceased was a registered donor. This compares to just 44 per cent if the potential donor was not registered and the family had no knowledge of their wishes.”
The DonateLife Community Awareness Grants are provided by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of its national Community Awareness and Education Program.
Applications are invited from non-government organisations and professional bodies, including community-based not-for-profit organisations and local government associations.
For details about the Community Awareness Grants and how to apply visit the DonateLife website: www.donatelife.gov.au
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
