Becoming an organ and tissue donor

Organ and tissue donation can save and transform the lives of people who, in many cases, are seriously ill or dying.

While the majority of Australians support organ and tissue donation, only around 1 in 3 (36%) are registered to be a donor.

There are currently around 1,850 Australians on the waitlist for an organ transplant. There are also around 14,000 additional people on dialysis – some of whom may need a kidney transplant

Since the national program first began in 2009, more than 16,700 people have received life-saving organ transplants from 5,904 deceased organ donors.

Australia still needs people of all ages and backgrounds to become potential donors. Register and tell your family you want to be a donor – it only takes 1 minute

Join the register | DonateLife (external site).

There are 2 types of donation:

• Deceased Organ and Tissue Donation – when someone chooses to register on the Australian Organ Donor Register to become a potential  organ or tissue donor after their death.
• Living Organ Donation – when someone donates a kidney or part of their liver to another person while they are still alive. For further information visit – Understanding living donation | DonateLife (external site). 
  • Living Tissue Donation – People may be able to donate their bone tissue if they are undergoing joint replacement surgery. Plus Life (Perth Bone and Tissue Bank) manage this process. For further information, call (08) 6144 3500, email Plus Life or visit the Plus Life website (external site).

Almost everyone can become an organ and tissue donor.

The governing factors are where and how a donor dies (if a deceased donor) and the condition of their organs and tissues.

Living donors who choose to donate a kidney or part of their liver are generally family members or close friends of the recipient. The operation will only proceed if strict medical and legal criteria have been met.

While your age and medical history will be considered, you shouldn't assume you are too young, too old, or not healthy enough to become a donor.

Only 1-2 per cent of people who die in hospital can become organ donors, which is why Australians of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to become potential donors.

If you are 16 years of age, or older and want to become a donor after death, you can register at Join the register | DonateLife (external site)

Until 2004, Western Australians were able to register their wish to be an organ and tissue donor on their driver’s licence. However, registration is now only possible through the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).

You can also join the AODR on the following channels, where you can specify which organs and/or tissues you are willing to donate.

• Register using your existing myGov (external site) account
• Register or update your details via the Express Plus Medicare app (external site)
• Download (external site) and post a new registration or update my details form

To find out if you are still registered, complete the online form at Join the register | DonateLife (external site) or Australian Organ Donor Register form (NH007DF) - Services Australisa (external site). If you are having any difficulty, please email aodr@servicesaustralia.gov.au or call the AODR directly on 1800 777 203, TTY 1800 810 586 (hearing and speech impaired) , TIS 131 450 (Translating and Interpreting Service)

If you choose to register, remember to tell your family. After your death, your family will make the final decision about whether to donate your organs or tissues.

If you are a family member or close friend of someone needing a transplant and are interested in donating a kidney or part of your liver, speak to your health professional. For further information visit the DonateLife (external site).

The AKX Programme (external site) – Australian Kidney Exchange programme helps patients seeking a kidney transplant, whose potential living donor is unsuitable for them due to blood group and/or tissue incompatibility.

DonateLife Western Australia (external site is part of WA Health (North Metropolitan Health Service). It coordinates all organ and tissue donor activities across Western Australia.

DonateLife WA works with hospitals and hospital-based DonateLife medical and nursing specialists to provide professional donation services and encourage best practice to increase donation rates.

DonateLife WA aims to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation, encourage discussion about donation, offer compassionate support to donor families and manage effective services in organ and tissue donation.