Important Update – From 1 July 2025
The SLOD Program is being updated to provide increased reimbursement for paid leave and out-of-pocket travel and accommodation costs.
If you're having donation surgery on or after 1 July 2025, you may be able to get more support*:
- Up to 18 weeks of paid leave, reimbursed at the national minimum wage (proof required)
- A $500 one-off payment to help with out-of-pocket costs
- Up to $4,000 for travel and accommodation costs (proof required for all expenses if claiming more than $500)
- A support person travel and accommodation costs (included in the $4,000 total)
- Overseas donors travel and accommodation costs (up to $4,000 total)
*Please refer to draft Program Guidelines for further details on eligibility
What else you should know:
- If your donation surgery is after 1 July 2025, you can claim leave and out-of-pocket costs for work-up appointments before 1 July 2025.
- If you undergo work-up testing but do not progress to donation, you can claim leave and out-of-pocket costs for work-up appointments on 1 July 2025 onwards under the new criteria. Work-up appointments before 1 July 2025 follow the current criteria.
About the program
The program provides financial support to eligible living donors of a kidney or partial liver.
We reimburse:
- up to 9 weeks (or 342 hours) of paid leave at the National Minimum Wage
- up to $1,000 for travel and accommodation out-of-pocket expenses.
This includes for people who have had work-up testing but did not end up becoming a donor.
This program is not an incentive to donate, and meets the World Health Organization’s guiding principles on human cell, tissue and organ transplantation.
Read about:
Why it is important
Becoming a living organ donor means taking time off work and travelling for tests, surgery and recovery.
The program helps cover these costs to avoid the potential financial stress this might cause living organ donors.
Who we work with
The Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA) leads the national program to increase and raise awareness of organ and tissue donation.
It also supports the Australian and New Zealand Paired Kidney Exchange (ANZKX) Program. This is a partnership that increases the chances of finding a match for a kidney transplant.
Many Australian and New Zealand clinicians and transplant hospitals support the ANZKX Program, including the ANZKX team at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Learn more
It’s important to understand the risks and benefits of being a living donor before you decide to be one. To find out more:
- talk to a medical professional, such as your general practitioner or a hospital transplant unit
- read Kidney Health Australia’s information on living kidney donation
- read our program guidelines.
Contact
Supporting Living Organ Donors Program contact
