Millions of Aussies renewing or applying for their driver’s licence may soon need to consider an additional question. It’s part of a push to increase the number of registered organ donors in Victoria, with the state’s numbers among the lowest in the country.
Only 23 per cent of the state is currently on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR). Only 10 per cent of those are young people.
The Victorian government is taking action to remedy the situation, agreeing to adopt all 41 recommendations, at least in part, from a parliamentary inquiry last year that was aimed at increasing donor registrations.
As part of the initiative, 15 and 16-year-olds will be educated about organ donation before they’re eligible for both donation and their driver’s licence.
Information about donation will also be included in the primary and secondary school curriculum.
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Why are donor registration levels so low?
Victorian drivers used to be able to tick a box to say if they were interested in registering to become an organ donor. Their licence would then say ‘Potential organ donor’ next to their photo.
But, since the early 2000s, that method of registration was removed, leading to confusion about whether the status is still valid.
Through the inquiry, it was determined that not all state records were successfully transferred to the AODR.
Residents can check their registration status via Medicare through myGov or the Medicare app.
South Australia is the only state or territory where it’s possible to record a donation decision on a driver’s licence — and it’s no coincidence that their registration rate is Australia’s highest at 72 per cent.
How can the number of donors be increased?
The Victorian government will move to allow drivers to once again register on the AODR while applying for or renewing a licence.
They will also include a call to action button on the Service Victoria website, allowing people to register online, and will run a campaign through TV, radio, billboards and online.
Schools will educate students about the registry, and those who are registered will be encouraged to discuss their decision with their family, as this reduces the burden of decision-making from grieving loved ones and improves the chances of receiving consent from the family.
“99.9 per cent of Victoria’s eligible population holds a driver licence, meaning the option to register to be a donor through the driver licence system presents an opportunity to increase Victorian registrations on the AODR on a mass scale,” a summary booklet from the inquiry states.
South Australia is leading the way with the highest number of registered organ donors. Victoria and the Northern Territory and bringing up the rear. Source: Parliament of Victoria
Call for more stem cell donors
There is also a push to encourage more Australians from every state to register as stem cell donors, as the current numbers are so low that 75 per cent of donations are coming from overseas donors.
The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry needs more donors that are young, male and ethnically diverse. Donating stem cells is a similar process to donating blood or plasma.
To register on the Australian Organ Donor Register or find out more, visit donatelife.gov.au.
To register on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry or find out more, visit strengthtogive.org.au.
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