“At the moment there are around 1,800 Australians on the transplant waiting list, so for these patients – who are in many instances desperately unwell – they really need a chance at life. For some of them, it’s a matter of life and death.”

These are the words of Dr Rohit D’Costa, the State Medical Director for DonateLife Victoria, who, in this special DonateLife Week episode, explains why DonateLife is encouraging up to 100,000 more Australians to register as organ and tissue donors.

DonateLife Week is an annual public awareness initiative that encourages Australians to register as organ and tissue donors. This year, it runs through July and August, with a big push from Sunday 25 July to Sunday 1 August.

Dr D’Costa says DonateLife is asking all Australians to join the Great Registration Race, by inviting people to either register on the Australian Organ Donor Register, or their check their registration, as many people think they are registered, but aren’t.  

He talks about the effects that COVID-19 had on donation and transplantation in 2020; the benefits that organ and tissue donation can have on people’s lives, and busts a few myths, too.

Dr D’Costa wants everyone to get involved. Help spread the word by accessing the many resources at https://www.donatelife.gov.au/resources/donatelife-week

“We really need people to make that registration decision and have the conversation with their loved ones,” he says.

More Australians are alive today because of organ and tissue donation. To register to be an organ and tissue donor, visit donatelife.gov.au – it only takes a minute.

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