• Information about DonateLife Week
• Key facts
• Key messages
• Call to action
• Downloadable resources
• Video and b-roll
• Case studies and spokespeople
• Media releases
• Contact information

What is DonateLife Week? 

Australia’s main national awareness raising week for organ and tissue donation. It runs from Sunday 28 July to Sunday 4 August 2024. 

How can we help your reporting? 

We can help journalists and producers create compelling DonateLife Week stories by linking you with strong case studies, spokespeople and medical experts from across Australia. 

Below you’ll find key messages, interesting statistics and facts, downloadable b-roll and contacts. 

How can you help DonateLife Week? 

Please include one of the following at the end of any news reports: 

• Be the reason someone else gets a second chance at life by registering as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or with 3 taps on your Express Plus Medicare app. 
• Register today as an organ and tissue donor. It only takes one minute at donatelife.gov.au or with 3 taps on your Express Plus Medicare app. 

When possible, add a QR code that links to our registration page: donatelife.gov.au/register 

Key facts 

• We know that 4 in 5 Australians say they support donation, but only approximately 1 in 3 (36%) are registered to be a donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR). 
• Trend data shows that 80% of families will consent to donation if you are a registered donor. This number drops to 40% if they don’t know you wanted to be an organ and tissue donor or you haven’t registered. 
• One organ donor can save the lives of up to 7 people, and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation. 
• There are currently around 1,800 Australians on the organ transplant waitlist and 14,000 more on dialysis for kidney failure who need Australia’s help. 

More information:

• Deceased organ donation in Australia (April 2024)
• Key statistics about donation (2023 data set) 
• All about organ and tissue donation 
• Understanding the facts and busting the myths (PDF)

Key messages

• DonateLife Week (Sunday 28 July to Sunday 4 August) is Australia’s major public awareness week to encourage more Australians to register and support organ and tissue donation. 
• We want all Australians to register as organ and tissue donors and be the reason someone else gets a second chance at life. 
• Transplant recipients come from different backgrounds, and experience different health issues, but they’re united in their gratitude for donors and their families. 
• Your family will always be asked to support your decision before organ donation goes ahead. They are much more likely to agree if they know you want to be a donor. 

Call to action:

Case studies and spokespeople

Contact us to speak with a family in your state or territory who is prepared to discuss a recent experience of organ and tissue donation or transplantation with media. We can also connect you with medical experts and local spokespeople. 

Read our donation stories

Media contact

Thank you for helping us encourage more Australians to register to be an organ and tissue donor, and to talk to their family about donation this DonateLife Week. 

The Organ and Tissue Authority

Media team
0403 058 662 
media@donatelife.gov.au

Upstride Agency

Jane Metlikovec
0409 539 880
jane@upstride.com.au