The size of the problem
Right now, more than 1,800 people are waiting for a life-saving transplant. There are also 14,000 people on dialysis, many of whom would benefit from a kidney transplant.
In 2023, there were 1,396 organ transplant recipients from 513 deceased organ donors.
In 2023, there were 9,904 reported tissue transplant recipients from 3,286 tissue donors, including:
- 2,958 living tissue donors
- 328 deceased tissue donors.
There were 1,546 eye donors and 2,486 corneal transplants.
Since 2009, more than 31,000 Australians have received a corneal transplant.
Read more on what we’re doing about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Who governs organ and tissue donation in Australia
Our Department sets national organ and tissue donation and transplantation policy.
Our portfolio agency, the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA), works to improve organ and tissue donation and transplantation outcomes in Australia on behalf of the Government.
To do this, they work with:
- states and territories
- clinicians
- the community sector
- the general public.
Services Australia hosts and manages the Australian Organ Donor Register – the national register where you can record your organ and tissue donation decision.