Hinkler residents encouraged to register online to save lives during DonateLife Week

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is encouraging local residents to put their good intentions about organ donation into effect by registering and sharing their decision online during DonateLife Week 2016 (Sunday 31 July to Sunday 7 August).

Mr Pitt said the majority of Australians support organ and tissue donation with 69 per cent of Australians saying they were willing to become organ and tissue donors, yet only 33 per cent of adults had joined the national register.

“Many have not registered because they haven’t made time or are unsure about how to register,” he said.

“During DonateLife Week this year, Hinkler residents are being asked to make the time to register online and to share their decision with family and friends. Registration is important because it leaves your family in doubt of your decision to save lives.”

Increasing rates of organ donation enabled a record 707 Australians to receive lifesaving transplants in the first six months of this year. A new annual record was also set in 2015, of 1,241 organ recipients.

Currently around 1,500 Australians are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, with a further 12,000 people on dialysis waiting for a new kidney.

“If you’re willing to one day save lives as a donor, make sure you join the Australian Organ Donor Register and share your decision with loved ones. And ask them, if they haven’t yet registered, ‘What are they waiting for?’” said Mr Pitt.

To register online to save lives all you need to do is visit www.donatelife.gov.au.

“The DonateLife website provides a simple online page to self-select your preferred method of joining the Register. Once you have registered, you’ll then be taken to a page with simple options for sharing your status as a registered donor online to encourage others to make time to sign up today,” Mr Pitt said.

DonateLife Week is Australia’s national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation and is led by the Organ and Tissue Authority.

To find out how to help #endthewait visit http://www.donatelife.gov.au/end-the-wait-campaign.

For more information, visit donatelife.gov.au.