A-Z Index | Contact the Department | Search Advanced Search

Home > Ministers > The Hon Catherine King MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > Australia Continues to Build on Increased Organ Donation and Transplantation

View by date:

• April
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

• 2013
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004

Previous Ministers

PDF printable version of Australia Continues to Build on Increased Organ Donation and Transplantation (PDF 41 KB)

18 October 2011

Australia’s official organ donation and transplantation outcomes are at the highest levels since national records began, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, announced today

At the end of September 2011, a total of 763 Australians have received life-saving transplants year-to-date from 254 deceased organ donors.

The outcomes represent a 12% increase in the number of transplant recipients and an 11% increase in the number of deceased organ donors compared with the same period in 2010. As at end September 2010, there were 683 transplant recipients and 228 deceased organ donors.

“The September year to date donation and transplantation outcomes build on the achievements realised in 2010, the first full year of implementation of the National Reform Agenda,” Ms King said.

In 2010, Australia achieved its highest organ donation and transplantation outcomes since national records began.

“It is greatly encouraging that Australians are increasingly discovering the facts about organ and tissue donation, making informed donation decisions and sharing those decisions with family members,” Ms King said.

“As the National Reform Agenda continues to be implemented, and we continue to normalise organ and tissue donation as part of end of life decision-making, we would hope to see family consent rates increase resulting in increased donation and transplantation outcomes.

“In Australia less than 2% of all deaths are in circumstances where potential organ donation is even possible. This is why it is so important for all Australian families to be prepared by making and sharing informed donation decisions.

“In time we expect to see an increase in Australia’s national family consent rate, which is currently less than 60%.

“This will be achieved as more Australians ask and know the donation wishes of family members so that they are prepared to confirm the wishes of loved ones if and when the situation arises.

“Families can be confident that they will be supported by specialists in organ donation who have been trained in requesting family consent in sensitive and traumatic circumstances,” Ms King said.

In 2010, Australia achieved a 25% increase in the number of deceased organ donors and a 17% increase in transplant recipients compared with 2009, with 309 deceased organ donors resulting in life-saving and life-improving transplants for 931 Australians.

A recent independent Mid Point Implementation Review Report on the National Reform Agenda’s implementation indicated that Australia’s progress equals or betters that seen in other nations at an equivalent stage in the reform journey.

Read the nation’s official September organ and tissue transplantation performance figures at: http://www.donatelife.gov.au/The-Authority/Report-Card.html

For all inquiries, contact the Parliamentary Secretary's office 02 6277 4230

September 2011 Performance Update

Organ Donation Rate

At September our national organ donation rate is 11 per cent higher than the same period in 2010 (254 organ donors compared to 228 at September 2010). This is the highest September year to date outcome since ANZOD began publishing records.

The growth in 2011 builds upon the 25 per cent increase in national donation rates achieved in 2010 compared to 2009—and the 51 per cent increase in 2010 over the baseline of 205 organ donors (average 2000–2008).

Transplant Recipients

At September our national transplant recipient rate is 12 per cent higher than the same period in 2010 (763 transplant recipients compared to 683 transplant recipients at September 2010). This is the highest September year to date outcome since ANZOD began publishing records.

The growth in 2011 builds upon the 17 per cent increase in national transplant recipients achieved in 2010—and the 37 per cent increase over the baseline of 681 transplant recipients (average 2000–2008).

Organs Transplanted

At September our national organ transplant rate is 11 per cent higher than the same period in 2010 (789 organs transplanted compared to 712 organs transplanted at September 2010).
This is the highest September year to date outcome since ANZOD began publishing records.

The growth in 2011 builds upon the 16 per cent increase in organs transplanted nationally in 2010—and the 37 per cent increase over the baseline of 716 organs transplanted (average 2000–2008).

Results – Donation and Transplant Rates

All three key performance measures of donation and transplant activity have increased from the baseline average of 2000–2008, through 2009 and 2010. 2011 annualised rates, based on September year to date outcomes, show further increases.

For the international standard measure of organs transplanted per million population (otpmp), over the 12 months to December 2010, Australia achieved an organ transplant rate of 43.8 representing a 14 per cent increase over the 2009 rate of 38.5 otpmp. The annualised year to date September 2011 outcome is higher again at 46.5 otpmp.

PDF Printable version of DonateLife September 2011 (PDF 962 KB)