Queensland first initiative sees hundreds of registrations for organ donation

The Miles Government is calling on Queenslanders to register as a donor on the national register, with research showing that 8 in 10 Queenslanders are in favour of organ donation, but only 3 in 10 are registered donors.

Joining forces with DonateLife, the national organ and tissue authority, the Miles Government has launched a new feature on the TMR license renewals and vehicle registration webpages that promotes registering your donor status, with 640 registering since it went live less than a week ago. 

Leading the nation for organ donation is South Australia at 73%, second is Tasmania at 48%, NSW sits at 41% and Queensland in fourth place at 31%. 

Queensland is the first jurisdiction to provide the organ donation link through their TMR online customer transaction portal. 

During DonateLife Week (Sunday July 28 to Sunday August 4), TMR will also promote its handy online links throughout its network of 89 Customer Service Centres across Queensland and will permanently increase organ donation messaging on their website, with five new links to register.  

For the first time, Queenslanders can choose to click a link directly to the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR) website from the TMR online portal to register as organ and tissue donors when renewing their licence or registering a vehicle online.

With almost four million drivers renewing licenses and paying vehicle registrations online each year, thousands more Queenslanders are expected to access the donor link and complete their registration, which takes less than one minute.

Since the link on the TMR portal went live on Monday, more than 640 Queenslanders have registered, including over 350 from the vehicle registration page and 290 through the licence renewals page.

The Miles Government is also committed to reintroducing the ability to indicate organ donation preferences on driver’s licenses when the current licensing database (TRAILS) is replaced in the coming years.

People can register or check your donation status via: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today  

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman: 

“As a proud organ donor myself, I truly believe that organ donation is one of the greatest gifts you can give. 

“I have met with donor recipients and have heard first hand just how life saving and life changing it is to receive an organ. 

“Around 1,800 Australians are on the organ waitlist and another 14,000 more on dialysis for kidney failure.

“They need our help, and I urge all Queenslanders to consider organ donation.

“It takes less than a minute to register, or to check your status on the register. 

“So this week we’re calling on Queenslanders to get online, register as a donor, or check their donor status. 

“It’s important that everyone talks to their family about their wishes because their family will always be given the final decision before organ donation proceeds.” 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services Bart Mellish:

“With around four million Queenslanders renewing their licences or registrations each year, it’s great to see this new feature on the TMR portal is already seeing hundreds of people register as a donor. 

“Thousands of people would have chosen their status years ago when they first got their licence, with many believing they are a registered donor when they’re not.

“By making it simpler for Queenslanders to check their status online or register to be a donor – this is about driving donor registration and saving lives.

Quotes attributable to DonateLife Queensland State Manager Tina Coco:

“We’ve listened to what people have told us are the main barriers holding them back from becoming organ and tissue donors.

“They’ve been saying that they really want to be the reason someone else gets a second chance at life, but we needed to make it easier to fit in with their busy lifestyles. Since people historically associated the Driver Licence with organ donation, it’s the perfect way to improve access.

“We are delighted TMR has agreed to partner with us on this, and really hope Queensland drivers will get behind this initiative to make a difference in so many people’s lives.

“Research shows that families are much more likely to consent to donation if they’re aware of their loved one’s express wish to donate their organs.”

ENDS