Could one simple act save a life? Here's how to sign up to the organ and tissue donor register in just one minute... and you CAN sign up if you're English
Are you a registered organ and tissue donor?
If not, did you know that more than 1800 Australians are currently on an organ waiting list and for them finding a donor match is a race against time and a matter of life and death?
Registering takes just one minute and given there are around 13 million Australians over the age of 16 who are eligible to register as an organ and tissue donor but who haven't yet, now is the time to do so.
If you're among the nearly one million people born in England living in Australia you can become an organ donor
If you're among the nearly one million people born in England living in Australia you may be mistaken in thinking you can't become an organ donor, you're wrong, you absolutely can register if you're over the age of 16 and have a Medicare card.
There's never been a better time to sign up and with DonateLife Week running from Sunday 25th July until Sunday 1 August, you can get involved in The Great Registration Race - which aims to encourage more than 100,000 people to sign up to become organ and tissue donors.
How much does a donation mean to a recipient? Here's Amanda's story
Amanda Cullen is a donor recipient.
Amanda says: 'Three years ago I received 'the call' at 2.15am in the morning from Westmead that they had a kidney for me. I was a big ball of different emotions. By around lunch time this day three years ago I was in surgery. I am so grateful and thankful for my angel donor and his family. I am so grateful for 'Thor'. Here's to many more years together ❤
Organ and Tissue Donation FAQs
Can I register to be an organ donor if I'm English?
YES! You can join the organ donor registry if you're over 16 and have a Medicare card.
What if I was born or have lived elsewhere?
You can join the register regardless of where you were born or where you have lived.
Why is there a misconception that English people can't become organ donors in Australia?
While many English Aussies can't donate breastmilk or give blood, they can register as an organ donor.
British Aussies cannot give blood or donate breastmilk if they lived in the UK for six months or more from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1996 because there was a large outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as ‘mad cow disease’) during this period.
English Australians cannot be tissue donors only organ donors
What do I need to register?
You just need to be over 16 and have a Medicare card. Click here to register now
If you want to become a donor it's just as important to tell your friends and family about your wishes as it is to register.
According to DonateLife, 90 percent of families will consent to donation if you are a registered donor. This number is halved if they don’t know you wanted to be an organ and tissue donor or you haven’t registered.
It doesn't matter how old you are, your medical history, your lifestyle, what country you’re from or how healthy you are, you can still register as an organ and tissue donor.
As well as the thousands of Australians on the waiting list there are also around 12,000 people on dialysis who could benefit from a kidney transplant with thousands more who's lives could be transformed through eye and tissue donation.
Imagine if one of them was someone you know.
That's why it's incredibly important to not only register but to also let your family, friends and loved ones know that you want to be a donor.
The one minute it takes to sign up could save a life.
To find out more about The Great Registration Race for DonateLife Week click here. To register to become an organ and tissue donor right now, click here.