The Christmas and New Year break, which brings families together is a great time to discuss wishes around organ and tissue donation, suggests Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.

“It’s timely to have a face-to-face discussion when people come together to celebrate giving.

“Signing up to be an organ or tissue donor is one of the greatest gifts of all.

“There are 1,500 Australians currently wait listed for a transplant, and a further 11,000 on dialysis.

“If you want to be an organ and tissue donor when you die, your family needs to know – it’s as simple as that.”

Mr Coulton said a major reason that families decline donation is because they were unsure of the wishes of their loved one when they died.

In 2018, nine out of ten families agreed to organ donation proceeding when their loved one was a registered donor. This dropped to five out of ten when their loved one was not registered and the family had no prior knowledge of their wishes.

“If you’re still looking for a resolution for the New Year, I urge you to think about signing up. You are never too old to register and having a few drinks and or eating unhealthily won’t stop you from being a donor,” he said.

“Even if you can’t become an organ donor many people go on to become eye, skin and tissue donors.

“A cornea transplant can restore sight, a skin graft will heal a severe burn, and tissue can help repair genetic defects.”

Organ donation recipients are gifted a second chance at life.

“In the last decade more than 11,000 Australians have received an organ transplant thanks to 4,000 donors and their families,” Mr Coulton said.

To register as an organ and tissue donor and to find out more, go to www.donatelife.gov.au.

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