Australian Organ Donor Register

The decision you make today could save lives in the future. Share your decision about becoming an organ and tissue donor with the people close to you. Send them Your DonateLife Message today.

In Australia, family consent is always sought before donation can proceed so it's important your family knows your wishes.

Find out how to create your personalised DonateLife Message on the DonateLife website.

What is the Australian Organ Donor Register?

The Australian Organ Donor Register (the Donor Register) was established in November 2000 and is the only national register for organ and/or tissue donation for transplantation. The Donor Register keeps a record of your donation decision and of the organ and tissue you agree to donate.

The Donor Register ensures your donation decision can be verified 24 hours a day, seven days a week by authorised medical personnel, anywhere in Australia. In the event of your death, information about your donation decision may be accessed from the Donor Register by authorised medical personnel and provided to your family. It is important you discuss your donation decision with your family or those close to you as they will be asked to give consent.

Why should I consider donating my organs and/or tissue?

For people with serious or life-threatening illnesses, organ and/or tissue transplantation could mean a second chance at life. Around 1700 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any one time.

Since 1965, more than 30 000 Australians have received transplants. Improved survival rates now mean most organ and/or tissue recipients enjoy many years of high-quality life after their transplant.

By choosing to record your donation decision on the Donor Register, you could save the lives of up to 10 people and improve the lives of dozens more.

Which organs and tissue can be donated?

Recording your donation decision on the Donor Register is voluntary and you have complete choice over which organs and/or tissue you are prepared to donate.

Donation can involve:

• organs—including kidneys, heart, lungs, liver and pancreas
• tissue—including heart valves, bone tissue, skin and eye tissue

Who can register on the Donor Register?

Persons 16 years of age or older can register their donation decision on the Donor Register.

How do I register as an organ and/or tissue donor?

• Register online
• Download a New registration, change or removal of details form [PDF, 149Kb]
• Visit your local Medicare Service Centre and pick up a brochure which includes a registration form.
• Call 1800 777 203 to register via telephone or request a registration form be posted to you.

Medicare card number

While it is not compulsory to supply your Medicare card number to the Donor Register doing so will enable your details to be kept up-to-date over time and may be used to access your most recent personal details as held by Medicare Australia.

To lodge your registration online it is a business requirement of Medicare Australia that you supply your Medicare card number as this will be used to validate your registration.

Confirmation process

Online and phone registrations are recorded as intent registrations as no signature has been provided. After registering your decision, you will be sent a confirmation letter to sign and return to confirm your registration details.

Privacy note

The establishment of the Australian Organ Donor Register (the Donor Register) is authorised by a service arrangement under subsection 7(2) of the Medicare Australia Act 1973. The information on the Donor Register may be disclosed to authorised personnel in the organ and tissue donation network who have signed confidentiality agreements covering your personal information.

Technical Information

To protect your privacy, online registrations are transferred to Medicare Australia using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) 3 encryption.

• Computer—a PC with a Pentium processor is recommended.
• Memory—memory minimum 32 Mb RAM.
• Browser—software Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 6 or higher for PC however, Intel Mac and Firefox Browser can be used.
• Modem—a modem to connect to the internet (56 kbps recommended).
• Internet access—a connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• Screen resolution—minimum screen resolution is 800 by 600 pixels (1024 by 768 recommended).

Update browser

To download the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer go to the Microsoft website.

How do I change my current registration details?

You may change or withdraw your donation decision on the Donor Register at any time.

• Download a New registration, change or removal of details form [PDF, 149Kb]
• Visit your local Medicare Service Centre and pick up a brochure which includes a registration form.
• Call 1800 777 203 to register via telephone or request a registration form be posted to you.

How do I know my organ and/or tissue donation decision has been registered correctly?

One of the following cards will confirm your registration details have been recorded on the Donor Register.

Post 2007

Before July 2007

New registrations without a signature will not receive a card until the confirmation process has been completed.

Why should I discuss my donation decision?

While the Donor Register offers a simple and accessible method of recording your donation decision, it is important to discuss your decision with your family or those close to you as they will be asked to give consent.

Your family or those close to you will be asked to confirm you had not changed your mind since you recorded your donation decision. Families that know each other’s donation decisions are more likely to uphold them.

What if I am already registered as a donor elsewhere?

The Donor Register is the only national register for organ and/or tissue donation, for transplanation.

Even if you have previously expressed an intention to donate organs and/or tissue—for example, by ticking a box on a driver licence renewal or registering elsewhere—it is important you update your details by registering your decision to be an organ and/or tissue donor on the Donor Register.

Who can donate organs and/or tissue?

Anyone can donate organs and/or tissue—there is no age limit on the donation of some organs and tissue. While your age and medical history will be considered, you should not assume you would be unable to donate organs and/or tissue.

When can organ and/or tissue donation occur?

The way a person dies determines whether they are able to donate organs and/or tissue.

Organ donation

A person may be able to donate organs where they have been declared brain dead in an intensive care unit in hospital. Brain death is when blood circulation to the brain ceases, the brain stops functioning and dies with no possibility of recovery.

A series of tests carried out by two independent and appropriately qualified senior doctors establishes that brain death has occurred.

People are sometimes confused about the difference between brain death and being in a coma. Brain death is completely different from being in a coma. A patient in a coma is unconscious because their brain is injured in some way, but their brain can continue to function and may heal. Medical tests can clearly distinguish between brain death and being in a coma.

Organ donation may also be possible after a person’s heart has stopped beating, referred to as “cardiac death”, but this is less common.

Tissue donation

A far greater number of people have the opportunity to donate tissue for transplantation.

Unlike organs, tissue may be stored for a period of time and tissue donation does not require the donor’s death to have occurred under the same limited circumstances as organ donation (for transplantation) to be successful.

How are organs and tissue removed?

The removal of organs and tissue is no different from any other surgical operation, and is performed by highly skilled health professionals. The donor’s body is always treated with dignity and respect. The donation of organs and/or tissue does not alter the physical appearance of the body, nor does it affect funeral arrangements.

If I become an organ donor, will my organs and/or tissue be used for research purposes?

No. Separate and specific permission is required for donated organs and tissue to be used for research purposes. Donated organs and/or tissue will not be used for medical research unless prior explicit written permission is granted.

If I have a tattoo, will I be able to donate organs and/or tissue?

Yes. However, it is a good idea to disclose the location and design of any tattoos and whether the tattooist was registered to your family or those close to you so that this information is passed onto the donor coordinators.

Will I have to pay to be an organ and/or tissue donor?

No. There is no cost to become an organ and/or tissue donor.

Who can access the information held on the Donor Register?

Only authorised medical personnel have access to the information recorded on the Donor Register. These personnel have signed confidentiality agreements covering the access and use of personal information. They are authorised by a management committee comprising representatives from Medicare Australia, the Department of Health and Ageing and DonateLife state organ donation agencies.

What is DonateLife Week and when is it?

DonateLife Week is the national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation (formerly known as Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week). Led by the Organ and Tissue Authority, DonateLife Week is a key event in the national DonateLife calendar. The aim of the week is to encourage all Australians to discuss their donation wishes with family and close friends. Why? Because in Australia, family consent is always sought before donation can proceed – even if you are registered.

For more information about how you can participate in DonateLife Week go to Donatelife website.

In 2012, DonateLife Week will be held from Sunday 19 to Sunday 26 February.

DonateLife

The discussion you have today could save lives in the future. Discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, become informed and Decide about becoming an organ and/or tissue donor, then Discuss your decision with the people close to you.

Where can I go for more information?

• Australian Organ Donor Register—sign on to save lives brochure [PDF, 1.0Mb]
• Donatelife—Discover, Decide, Discuss
• National and state organ and tissue donor contacts

Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.

Last updated: 15 February, 2012

Explore Medicare