Everything You Wanted to Know About Organ Donation (But Didn’t Have the Guts to Ask)

We quizzed students on the most popular questions on organ donation - how do you think they did?

This article is presented in partnership with Donor Mate.

Did you know that over 1,800 Aussies are waiting for a life-saving transplant?

Talking about organ donation might seem like a bit of a morbid subject, but your vital organs can be vital in saving multiple lives.

But how does it all work? Can anyone donate? What exactly is needed?

We chatted with some uni students to see just how much they knew about organ donation, and we answered some of your FAQs below to get to the heart of the issue.

Am I old enough to be an organ donor?

The age to register as an organ donor is probably younger than you think! Anyone over the age of 16 can register to donate their organs & tissues.  

Which of my organs are needed the most?

If it was a popularity contest, kidneys would win hands down. Kidneys make up more than half of organs transplanted, followed by liver, lungs and heart.

You can also have your tissues donated, like heart valves, tendons, ligaments, and even skin and eye parts. But if you’re not vibing with some of this, you can choose which organs and tissues you feel the most comfortable parting with.

Why should I bother?

The reason why it is so important to be registered is because organ donation is an extremely rare event. Only less than 2% of the population will kick the bucket in a way that allows for organ donation.

With your organ donation, you can actually save up to seven lives. HUGE.

Do I need to tell my family I’m an organ donor? Who would get the final say?

Absolutely! Your family have the power to overrule your decision and prevent your organs from being donated, but this is less likely to happen if they know you’re a die-hard (so to speak) organ donor. 

Families of potential organ donors will always be asked to consent to their family member becoming an organ donor in hospital, and they will be more than likely to consent if you let them know.

I’ve registered on my driver’s licence… isn’t that enough?

Unfortunately not.

The Australian Organ Donation Register is the only national register for organ donation. So even if you’ve previously ticked the box on your driver’s licence renewal, you still need to register on the Donor Register.

It only takes a few minutes to sign up, so head to donatelife.gov.au/donormate to register today!