The life-changing gift of organ and tissue donation will be celebrated in Launceston this week as more than 600 athletes take part in the 18th Australian Transplant Games.
The Albanese Government is proud to support the Games, which brings together transplant recipients, living donors and donor family members from across Australia.
Held from 26 September to 3 October, the Games are an opportunity for transplant recipients to compete, connect and celebrate the life-changing impact of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Athletes will compete across 17 sports ranging from basketball to scrabble. This will be the first year of pickleball, and there will also be a netball exhibition match.
The games will take place at more than 12 local sporting venues, with the event expected to host nearly 1,000 people, including interstate and international visitors during the week-long celebrations.
Beyond the competition, the Games are an opportunity to start conversations about organ donation and encourage more Australians to register and importantly talk to their families about their wishes.
Tasmanians are already leading the way, with half of the eligible population already registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register, compared to 36 per cent nationally.
This strong community support is reflected in actual hospital donation rates, with more than 70 per cent of Tasmanian families saying yes to donation, compared to the national rate of 53 per cent.
Tasmanians are encouraged to get behind the Games. Find more information at
Australian Transplant Games 2026 | A Celebration of Life Through Sport
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
“It’s wonderful to have the Australian Transplant Games here in Launceston for the first time.
“Every athlete competing has a remarkable story and each one is a reminder of the difference organ donation can make.
“Behind every transplant is a donor family who made an incredibly important decision that gave someone else a second chance of life.
“Tasmanians have a proud record when it comes to organ donation and I hope having the Games here encourages even more families to have that conversation, registering is easy and can be done via Medicare or donatelife.gov.au.
“I wish every athlete the best of luck for the week ahead and I hope they enjoy their time in Launceston.”