The Morrison Government today announced it is providing $430,000 in grants for community-based initiatives to encourage more Australians to become organ and tissue donors.
Applications are now open for community groups or not-for-profit organisations to run events during 2019 DonateLife Week (Sunday 28 July – Sunday 4 August), or for other awareness and education activities during 2018–19.
Minister Wyatt said today, "We are specifically looking for applications for events or activities that will engage with specific groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders or multicultural groups."
"We want all Australians to speak with family and friends to let them know if they want to be a donor and register on the Australian Organ Donation Register. To do that we need to increase awareness and understanding about organ donation and transplantation across Australia," said Minister Wyatt.
In 2018, the generosity of 554 deceased organ donors and their families, and 238 living donors, saved and improved the lives of 1,782 Australians. A further 10,500 Australians benefited from tissue donation.
There are around 1,400 Australians currently on the waitlist for a transplant and around 12,000 people on dialysis. One day it might be you, or a family member that needs a transplant. This is why we need to do more.
"To further increase donation outcomes, we need more people to say yes to donation, increasing consent rates. This can be achieved by more people talking about donation and more registrations," said Minister Wyatt.
The DonateLife Community Awareness Grants are provided by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of its national Community Awareness and Education Program. Applications are invited from non-government organisations and professional bodies, including community-based not-for-profit organisations and local government associations.
Applications open at 9:00 am AEDT on Monday 25 February 2019 and close at 10:00 am AEDT Thursday 14 March 2019.
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