It’s DonateLife Week this week and the Central Australia Health Service is encouraging Territorians to take a few minutes to register to be an organ and tissue donor.

“While the majority of Australians believe it’s important to be an organ and tissue donor, only one in three are registered nationwide, and the percentage is even less in the Northern Territory,” said Khim Tan, Donation Specialist Nurse at Alice Springs Hospital.

“We want to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation during DonateLife Week and how this gift will be life-changing for someone in need,” Ms Tan said.

One Central Australian who can attest to this fact is Allan Campbell, an Arrernte man from a homeland near Alice Springs, who received the gift of a kidney more than four years ago.

“I want more Aboriginal people to get more kidneys. It will make our people live longer if they understand that when you get the kidney it can make you live another 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years longer,” Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell openly talks about his kidney story and he wants to tell other Aboriginal people that becoming an organ donor is a good thing to do.

“If you look after your organs, you can give those organs to someone else to help them live longer and change their life,” he said.

He said some people thought having a kidney transplant would not be the right thing to do, but he does not agree.

“After facing a series of tests I went on the donor list but it took several years to find a match. I was on dialysis and I could not go anywhere. I have to tell people that getting that little kidney was the best thing I have ever done. Now I have my life back.”

It is quick and easy to become a registered donor and make a real difference to the lives of others.  

“We want to inspire all Central Australians to make a real difference to the lives of others by registering and telling their family they want to be a donor,” Ms Tan said.

So register now at donatelife.gov.au to become a donor during DonateLife Week and have a chat with your family, friends and colleagues and encourage them to sign up too.

Media contact – Gail Turner – 0476 839 383