But Highlanders will be encouraged to open up on the subject in November.

DonateLife Thank You Day is Australia’s national day to acknowledge living and deceased organ and tissue donors and their families.

Every year, hundreds of Australians save and transform lives through the ultimate gift of organ and tissue donation.

This year DonateLife Thank You Day will be Sunday, November 20.

In the first eight months of 2016, a record 958 Australians received an organ transplant through the generosity of 329 deceased organ donors and their families.

At the same time, more than 1400 Australians and their families are waiting for a transplant with a further 12,000 people on dialysis.

Anyone could one day be in need of an organ or tissue transplant.

In 2015, 435 organ donors gave 1241 transplant recipients a new chance in life.

On average, people on the transplant list wait between six months and four years.

The aim of DonateLife Thank You Day is to help normalise the subject of organ and tissue donation by encouraging all Australians to say thanks to those who have saved and improved lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation.

Many Australians have not informed their family of their donation decision and many family members do not confidently know each other’s donation decision.

The most important thing that helps a family’s decision is knowing the donation decision of their loved one. 

Highlanders can express their thanks to all donors and their families by:

Visit donatelife.gov.au/thank-you-day for more information about DonateLife Thank You Day.