IT WILL soon be possible to register as an organ donor online in less than 10 minutes as the federal government pushes to increase donations.
In the eight years since the government announced a program to increase organ donation and transplantation only seven per cent of Australians (1.8 million people) are registered organ donors. A further 4.3 million people have at some stage signalled their intent to become a donor but have not completed the paperwork required under the current system.
"Almost all Australians would like to be able to receive a donated organ if it was required to save a life. Yet the vast majority of Australians are not registered organ donors," said Rural Health minister Fiona Nash.
"As of May, registering to become an organ donor will be a one-step, online process able to be completed in less than 10 minutes - no paperwork necessary.
"In Australia we worship our sporting stars, and we rightly honour our war heroes, with memorials bearing their names.
"Organ donors are real heroes who save lives. Donor families give an amazing gift. Let's admire our organ donor heroes with the same passion we admire our stars in sport, music or whatever our particular interest is.
Minister Nash said there were 1600 people on organ waiting lists at any one time and 50 Australians died every year waiting for an organ.
