DonateLife

23/02/2026

After you register to be an organ and tissue donor, it’s important that you tell your family you want to be a donor.

Very few people can become organ donors, as only around 2% of people who die in Australian hospitals meet the criteria. Even if you’re registered, your family will always be asked to agree to donation before it proceeds. By telling your family, you leave them certain if the time ever comes.

Nina Seng is a Regional Nurse Manager with many years of experience guiding families through the donation process. Watch this video to learn more 👀

19/02/2026

When Scott contracted swine flu on a trip to the UK, his wife Phillipa never imagined it could be so serious. On return to Australia, he was admitted to ICU in an induced coma, and not long after she was told that his illness was not survivable.

Phillipa and Scott had talked about organ donation, so when the unbelievable happened, Phillipa knew what to do.

‘First of all, I was helping Scott fulfil what he wanted to do, which was a real honour and a privilege. But I knew that out there 2 Australians were getting phone calls that would completely change the course of their lives,’ she said.

16/02/2026

Teachers, we’ve got something to make planning your term one lessons a little easier!

In partnership with Cool.org we developed 9 lessons about organ and tissue donation, aimed at Year 9 and 10 students 🎒

Each lesson has its own unique angle, including activities and information presented through video, media clippings, research papers and other forms of engaging content.

All the lessons are aligned with the Australian curriculum and cover a range of subjects like Health and Physical Education, Civics and Music.

Want to use the lessons for your planning, or pass them along to a teacher who might? Visit https://www.donatelife.gov.au/education-resources

12/02/2026

Are you always supporting DonateLife in the background but haven’t made it official?

If you’re passionate about organ and tissue donation, consider joining our amazing volunteer team. Our state and territory DonateLife agencies are always looking for volunteers to help raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and encourage more Aussies to register as donors.

There’s lots of different ways to get involved as a volunteer, with no minimum hours required.

Contact your local DonateLife agency to find out more at www.donatelife.gov.au/find-your-local-donatelife-agency

10/02/2026

We’re excited to be heading to Sydney Gay and Le***an Mardi Gras Fair Day this Sunday 15 Feb at Victoria Park, Camperdown 🌈

One misconception about organ and tissue donation is that your s*xual orientation excludes you from being a donor. This is simply not true.

While a person’s medical and social history will be considered by the medical team when they die, a person’s s*xual orientation, gender, gender identity or s*x characteristics do NOT prevent that person from becoming a donor.

If you want to find out more, come and chat with the DonateLife team at Fair Day - we’ll be there to answer questions, bust myths and help you register if you choose to ✨

06/02/2026

Aaron was a fit, athletic 15-year old when he started having dizzy spells at school. Shortly after a doctor found out his aortic valve was 78% closed, Aaron experienced severe cardiac arrest and had to go on life support. A donor heart saved Aaron’s life and allowed him to follow his sporting passions and start a family.

If every Australian currently registered as an organ donor asked just one friend to register, there could be an additional 7.8 million people registered as organ and tissue donors 🩷

The majority of Australians support organ and tissue donation, but only 36% of the eligible population are registered to be a donor.

Share this post and encourage just one person to register as an organ and tissue donor today. Registering is easy and only takes one minute at www.donatelife.gov.au 🌟

03/02/2026

When Layla was born, parents Aleisha and Andrew thought she was perfect, but something didn’t feel quite right. Tests showed that there were issues with her liver, and she was diagnosed with biliary atresia.

‘It’s hard to have a sick child, because you want to do something for them. You want to make them better, and you can’t,’ says Aleisha.

Doctors told the new parents that she would not survive 12 months without a transplant. And so, the wait began. Luckily, they received the call and Layla was able to get her transplant. The change was immediate – her skin turned pink, they were able to hear her giggle, and finally take her home from the hospital.

Layla’s donor is never far from their thoughts.

‘We’ll never know who they were, but they changed our lives. They gave Layla a life to live.’

29/01/2026

For kids waiting for a transplant, life can feel like it’s on pause - missing school, not seeing their friends, and waiting for the call they need to live their best lives again.

But thanks to the life-saving gift of organ donation, these incredible kids are thriving! Today, they’re packing their bags, heading back to school, and embracing a future full of possibilities 🎒✨

By registering as an organ and tissue donor, you could help make this moment possible for other kids still waiting for a life-saving transplant 💖

It only takes one minute to register at donatelife.gov.au.

28/01/2026

It was wonderful to have the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Honourable Rebecca White MP at the announcement of the Australian Transplant Games location for 2026. The Organ and Tissue Authority is a major sponsor of the Games which are in their 18th year. The Games will take place in Launceston in September 🎉

Tasmania is proud to host the Australian Transplant Games and to welcome athletes and their families from across the country and internationally to our state in September.

The Games remind us that organ donation saves lives and changes them.

We also acknowledge the nurses from LGH who support families through donation discussions in ICU. Along with the Southern team, they are a key reason Tasmania’s donation rates are higher than the national average. The work the health teams do in our hospitals is amazing.

Today, we thank every organ and tissue donor, and the families who said yes. Your generosity has given hope to so many.

27/01/2026

Luna says register as an organ and tissue donor 🐶📣

Most Australians support organ and tissue donation, but only 1 in 3 are registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. Luna wants everyone who supports donation to register as an organ and tissue donor so more Australians can get life-saving transplants 🩷

Register at donatelife.gov.au

27/01/2026

We are so grateful to Steph for lending her voice to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation 💕

White Island survivor Stephanie Browitt has opened up on her brave fight for life after the devastating 2019 volcanic eruption, which killed 22, including her dad and sister. > https://bit.ly/4aciN5r

20/01/2026

Many people think that after they register to be an organ and tissue donor, they don’t need to do anything else. But registering doesn’t guarantee you’ll be a donor in the future. Donation will only go ahead if your family agrees.

In Australia, families are always asked to say yes to donation. Medical teams will never proceed with donation if your family objects.

Every year opportunities for transplants are missed because families aren’t sure what their family member wanted. This is why it’s so important for you to tell your family you want to be a donor so that it’s easy for them to decide during a very emotional and stressful time.

If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, visit our website for some tips: www.donatelife.gov.au/all-about-donation/talk-your-family-about-donation