The Australian Football League (AFL) has come together to support and encourage fans to sign up as organ and tissue donors throughout DonateLife Week and Round 20 of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
Federal Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt, and AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan were joined today at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne by a number of little footy fans who have received or who are waiting for life-saving transplants.
“These little Aussie battlers showcase why it is so important to be on the Australian Organ Donor Register and to discuss your decision with loved ones,” Minister Wyatt said.
“Today some 1,400 Australians and their families are waiting for a life-saving transplant.”
Minister Wyatt urged all footy fans at this week’s matches or watching from home to register their decision at donatelife.gov.au.
“One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people – this is what it is all about, giving someone a second chance of life.
“You can register to save lives in minutes on a smartphone or computer. All people need is their Medicare card number handy,” he said.
“With Round 20 encouraging all footy fans to register online to save lives, we can significantly increase the number of Australians currently registered and as a result save more lives.”
Geelong player, and AFL DonateLife Ambassador, Tom Lonergan, joined Minister Wyatt and Mr McLachlan today and encouraged AFL fans to have the important conversation with loved ones once they had made their decision.
Fans can expect to see the DonateLife branding at every match during Round 20 with DonateLife staff on the ground to assist with making your donation decision count.
Federal Minister for Sport, Greg Hunt, said the partnership would tap into Australia’s passion for AFL and team spirit to help those on the transplant wait-list.
“Organ and tissue donation is the ultimate gift, a gift we all have the potential to give, simply by registering and sharing our decision with loved ones,” Minister Hunt said.
Last year, a record 1,713 Australians received a transplant, thanks to the generosity of 503 deceased and 267 living organ donors and their families. At present, approximately 1,400 Australians are on the organ donor waiting list.
Registering to be an organ or tissue donor is quick and easy at the DonateLife website.
This month the Government announced a new online donor registration process that takes just minutes to register.