GOVERNMENT TO DISTRIBUTE ORGAN DONOR FORMS WITH LICENCE RENEWALS

The ACT Government will now be able to distribute Australian Organ Donation Register (AODR) Forms with driver licence renewal notices through Road User Services, the Minister for Health Katy Gallagher MLA announced today.

The Minister said that the changes had arisen following an approach from a member of the community late last year suggesting that this might be a strategy to increase organ donation rates.

A minor amendment has been made to the Privacy Act 1988 by Minister Hargreaves to allow this idea to become a reality.

"ACT Health and community partners deliver services providing awareness-raising and community education activities about organ donation and supporting the process of registration of individuals on the AODR as potential organ donors."

"This small but important change complements the work that been announced by the Prime Minister."

"What we know, is that education and support around organ donation for the community is vital in ensuring that awareness and understanding of the importance of organ donation continues to grow."

The Minister acknowledged that in the ACT, with the increased community awareness, numbers of organ donors are on the rise. The ACT has seen 23 ACT donors for this year to date comprising 2 multi-organ donors (including corneas) and 20 corneal donors. At the same time, in 2007 only 9 ACT donations had been made.