Mosman tops NSW donor list, with 60% of residents pledging organs to save lives.

By ANNA USHER

Mosman residents are among the top organ and tissue donors in the state, according to new research revealing that 60% of locals have made the lifesaving pledge.

The Australian Organ Donation Register (AODR) has awarded our local government area second spot behind the Blue Mountains, issuing a thank you to the suburb and encouraging others to register their details on the national data base.

There are currently around 1,800 Australians on the organ waitlist and 14,000 more on dialysis for kidney failure who need Australia’s help. Sadly, more than 50 Australians died last year while on the organ transplant waitlist.

“We know that four in five Australians say they support donation, but only 36 per cent are registered (41 per cent in NSW),” a spokesperson told Mosman Collective.

“If an extra three million Australians register, around 90-100 more people would receive a lifesaving organ transplant every year.”

In NSW in 2023:

• 47,132 people registered as organ donors on the AODR
• 142 people died and became organ donors – up 16%
• 392 people received organ transplants – up 22%.

The theme of DonateLife Week 2024 which is on until Sunday, August 4 is : “Be the reason someone else gets a second chance at life.”

The best way to do this is to register as a donor.

Then, tell your family you’ve pledged!

NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service (OTDS) Acting General Manager Juliana Celcer said DonateLife Week is the perfect time to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor, as newly released data reveals the need for more people across the state to register as donors.

”We know opportunities for organ transplants are missed because families are uncertain of their loved one’s wish to be a donor, and that’s why it is important for Australians not only to register but to tell their families they want to be a donor,” Ms Celcer said.

“Organ donation saves lives and increasing awareness and consent is critical to lifting our donation rate. We encourage NSW residents to go online and pledge to give the gift of life to those in need.”

Anyone aged 16-plus can register as an organ and tissue donor – including the elderly or unhealthy, who may have a history with alcohol, smoking or Covid.

Registering only takes 60 seconds and can be done via donatelife.gov.au, the Medicare app or the MyGov website.

“There will be millions of Australians visiting MyGov to do their tax return who have the opportunity to register in less than a minute while they’re there,” Ms Celcer said.