THE Country Women’s Association (CWA) has endorsed the re-instatement of the organ donor status on NSW drivers’ licences.
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In 2012 the NSW government abolished the option to register for organ donation through the drivers’ licence system in the hope donation rates would improve by moving to a single national registry run by Medicare.
In the government’s Increasing Organ Donation in NSW 2012 plan, the change was prompted by the “significant” difference in the number of people who indicated they were willing to be organ donors on the Roads and Maritime Services register and the number who ultimately donated their organs.
However, at the CWA’s state conference this month, members voted to have the organ donor status put back on drivers’ licences. CWA Wollondilly group president Kit Bright said as part of the debate, it was made clear this would be an indication of intention and the final say would be up to the next of kin.
“If you want to be a donor, have the conversation with your family,” Ms Bright said.
Ms Bright said Australia had one of the lowest organ donor statistics in the world and the CWA actively promoted and encouraged everyone to register as an organ donor.
A further resolution was passed at the CWA state conference for the women’s group to actively promote organ donor registration.
Exeter CWA president Aliki Darlow said it was “most important” to improve the level of organ donation.
“One body may yield many important tissues or organs and thus benefit several lives,” she said.
Currently, anyone who wishes to register their organ donor intent must do so through the Australian Organ Donation Register.
A snapshot of the previous register through the drivers’ licence system has been kept on file for five years.
Australia follows the “opt-in” arrangement which means organ donation only proceeds when the person consents in advance or their family decides on their behalf. This is instead of the “opt-out” model which presumes everyone is willing to be a deceased donor unless they explicitly register a refusal.
For more information on organ donation visit: www.donatelife.gov.au/