People across New South Wales are being encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors and discuss their decision with their families as DonateLife Week continues across Australia.
Running from 26 July to 2 August, the annual national awareness campaign aims to increase registrations on the Australian Organ Donor Register and encourage families to have important conversations about donation.
The campaign comes as NSW records significant growth in organ donation and transplantation, while the number of people registering as donors continues to decline.
Transplants rise as registrations fall
In 2025, NSW recorded 160 deceased organ donors, an increase of 18 per cent from the previous year.
A total of 411 people received life-saving organ transplants, representing a 17 per cent annual increase.
Despite this progress, only 34,156 NSW residents joined the Australian Organ Donor Register during the year—19 per cent fewer than in 2024.
Nationally, 557 deceased organ donors helped 1,438 Australians receive transplants in 2025, marking record donor numbers. However, only about 35 per cent of eligible Australians are currently registered, despite four in five people saying they support organ and tissue donation.
Family conversations remain critical
Organ donation can proceed only in rare medical circumstances, with approximately 2 per cent of hospital deaths occurring under conditions where donation may be possible.
Even when a person is registered, their family will be asked to support the decision before donation proceeds.
Around eight in ten families agree to donation when they know their loved one was registered. That level of support falls significantly when a person’s wishes are unknown.
Health authorities are therefore encouraging people not only to register, but also to clearly communicate their decision to relatives.
Thousands remain in need of transplants
Around 1,800 Australians are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, while a further 14,000 people are receiving dialysis because of kidney failure.
More than 50 Australians die each year while waiting for a suitable donated organ.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said every registration mattered because opportunities for organ donation were limited and depended heavily on families understanding the wishes of their loved ones.
“Behind every donation is a family who said yes at a very hard moment of their lives, and another family who gets more time with the person they love,” Mr Park said.
Transplant recipient shares her story
Newcastle heart transplant recipient Luka-Angel Cairns is among the leading faces of the 2026 DonateLife Week campaign.
This year marks a decade since she received her transplant.
Cairns said the decision made by another family ten years ago had allowed her to experience milestones and opportunities that would otherwise not have been possible.
“Registering takes a minute, and it can give someone like me a whole lifetime,” she said.
Registration campaign across NSW
Landmarks throughout NSW are being illuminated in DonateLife’s signature magenta colour during the awareness week, while community events are being held across the state.
NSW Health has also partnered with Service NSW to promote donor registration through the MyServiceNSW app, service centre screens and other digital channels.
Australians aged 16 and over can join the Australian Organ Donor Register. Online registration generally takes about one minute and can be completed using a Medicare card.
People without a Medicare number may still register using a printed form, by visiting a Services Australia service centre or by telephone.
Health authorities are urging residents to take two steps this DonateLife Week: register their decision and tell their families.
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