DonateLife

24/04/2026

Born with Cystic Fibrosis, Sarah’s life began with its own challenges. But through the gift of organ donation, Sarah’s story became one of second chances and new beginnings.

‘I was having surgery at Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth when my mum got the phone call to say I was getting a lung transplant,’ Sarah said.

‘We had to travel to Melbourne immediately for the transplant. I remember being sad that I couldn’t say goodbye to my dog.’

Almost 12 years on from her life-saving transplant, Sarah has moved out of home to study and is enjoying life with her new puppy. Sarah is fulfilling dreams she never thought possible.

Read more about Sarah’s story: www.donatelife.gov.au/donation-stories/sarah-had-double-lung-transplant

21/04/2026

The DonateLife NT team had a great evening spreading the word about organ donation at the NRL on Friday at TIO Stadium in Darwin. The DonateLife stall was very busy – our team spoke to many NRL fans about the importance of registering and talking to their families about organ donation.

The sold-out game was electric, with the Penrith Panthers scoring a match-winning field goal in golden point against the Dolphins NRL in the final moments of the game.

Thanks to Tourism and Events NT for organising such a fantastic night!

19/04/2026

Did you know liver disease affects 1 in 3 Australians? For some people, their liver damage can become so advanced that their liver doesn’t work anymore. Their only hope at living a healthy life is a liver transplant.

Last year in Australia, 303 people had a liver transplant. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of organ donors, and their families who agreed to donation.

Register as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au, and talk to your family about organ and tissue donation.

17/04/2026

It was great to be at The Modbury Football Club last night for the Adelaide Footy League Police Credit Union and Channel 9 live cross ahead of the opening round for the Adelaide Football League. We had lots of great conversations with the community about the life-saving power of organ and tissue donation 🩷🏈 South Australia Police

14/04/2026

Jaylyn was a normal, footy-loving 17-year-old when he started feeling out of breath. Doctors initially blamed asthma, but his mum took him to the ER where tests revealed cardiomyopathy. Things escalated quickly, eventually leading to a heart transplant.

Today, 22-year-old Jaylyn is strong and healthy, and recently started a street clothing business aptly named 2ndChnc. He regularly volunteers for DonateLife in honour of his donor.

Read more about Jaylyn’s heart transplant journey on the DonateLife website: www.donatelife.gov.au/donation-stories/jaylyn-had-heart-transplant

10/04/2026

Many people wonder what happens to a person’s body after they donate their organs, including how long the process takes and how it could impact funeral arrangements.

We posed the question to Nina Seng, a DonateLife Regional Nurse Manager with many years of experience guiding families through the donation process.

You can find more interesting facts about organ and tissue donation at donatelife.gov.au

09/04/2026

Have you ever heard this myth? ‘If I’m registered as a donor, doctors won’t try as hard to save my life.’

The truth is that a doctor’s first priority will always be to save your life.

Medical and nursing staff work incredibly hard to save lives. Organ and tissue donation will only be raised if a person has died, or death is inevitable. This is when the Australian Organ Donor Register is checked, and their family will be asked about organ donation.

Get more facts about organ and tissue donation at donatelife.gov.au ✨

07/04/2026

One of the first big life decisions teens make could change lives 💕 Check out the article below which explores why starting conversations about organ donation early matters ✨
👉 Read more: https://region.com.au/gen-alphas-first-big-life-decision-could-alter-lives-and-it-starts-with-a-conversation/953002/

Before we're old enough to get a driver’s licence or vote comes a choice that could alter lives. In Australia…

07/04/2026

Maddy’s journey to becoming a nurse began with much personal experience on the other side of the hospital bed.

At just 3 days old, Maddy fell into a coma from a rare inherited metabolic disorder called Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS1), which affects the body’s ability to remove ammonia from the bloodstream.

While she carefully managed her diet and medications during childhood, it was not enough to maintain her health during her teen years. By 25 years of age, Maddy was being admitted to ICU with serious complications every 6 weeks. She needed a liver transplant to survive.

Since her transplant, Maddy has gone from strength to strength, returning to horse riding, getting engaged and undertaking her Bachelor of Nursing degree.

‘My goal is to join the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a flight nurse, to bring critical care to remote communities across Australia,’ Maddy said.

Read more about Maddy’s liver transplant journey: www.donatelife.gov.au/donation-stories/maddy-had-liver-transplant

02/04/2026

We’re proud to share with you our 13 new community partners, who received Community Awareness Grants to engage Australians about organ and tissue donation in 2026 🌟

Our partners will host DonateLife Week events and run national marketing and PR strategies, reaching Aussies who support donation but don’t know how or why they should register as donors.

Projects include community walks, engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nation communities, national in-venue public advertising, campaigns to reach women and mobile gamers, and radio and television broadcasts.

Read the full announcement and learn more about the projects on the DonateLife Website: www.donatelife.gov.au/news-events/news/2026/meet-our-new-community-partners

Ipswich Jets Rugby League Team Curated AUS Adelaide University Education Students' Association - AUESA TMC - Thriving Multicultural Communities Convenience Advertising WIN News Australia Newscorp Women's Agenda Loft Social Richmond FC Media Heads

01/04/2026

Ever wondered how people get matched for an organ transplant? 🤔

Today marks 7 years since the launch of OrganMatch – Australia's organ donor and recipient matching system. When someone needs an organ transplant, their details are entered into a system called OrganMatch and they go on the waitlist for a donor organ to become available.

OrganMatch uses information like blood type and DNA to match organs safely and accurately. It also considers other important factors such as organ size, how urgently the transplant is needed, and where the donor and recipient are located.

Matches are not based on personal background. Culture, religion, gender, income, disability—and in some cases age—are not considered. The system prioritises the person with the greatest medical need. Thanks to virtual matching, Australia can now find suitable matches much faster than in the past, helping improve transplant outcomes for everyone ❤️

Learn more about how donation works by visiting the DonateLife website: www.donatelife.gov.au/all-about-donation/how-does-donation-work

30/03/2026

Georgina remembers her dad Neil as someone who had seen it all. He’d lived a rich, adventurous life for 60 years, before he died of a sudden haemorrhagic stroke.

Just weeks before, Georgina raised the question of organ and tissue donation at Neil’s bedside in the hospital.

‘I’m signed up,’ Georgina told him. Unsure at first, Neil thought about it and then replied, ‘Well, it’d be a waste not to, right?’

Thanks to that one conversation, Neil’s corneas restored sight for 2 people. Georgina now shares his story with pride.

‘It’s how I keep a part of him alive. In a way, he’s still out there, literally looking at the world. That means everything to me,’ said Georgina. ‘So, here’s to you dad. And to the 2 people who now see through your eyes – I hope those eyes serve you well. I hope you see beauty, wonder, and love.’

It takes just one minute to register as a donor – you could save up to 7 lives and transform many more through eye and tissue donation 🌟

Register today at donatelife.gov.au and remember to talk to your family.