CPSU get behind Organ Doner Week

Date: 18 February 2004

The CPSU is lending its support to Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week, which will take place from 22 to 28 February 2004.

Tribute for Matthew Reynolds

For many CPSU members, the issue of organ donation came into focus after the sudden death of CPSU National President, Matthew Reynolds, last year from a brain aneurism. Matthew was an organ donor, and following his sudden passing, parts of his body provided a new start for some seriously ill people.

CPSU Assistant National Secretary, Margaret Gillespie said Matthew's involvement in the organ donation register reflected the sort of person he was.

 "Matthew was a very decent and caring bloke. We think that our support for Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week would be a fitting, 'permanent' memorial to him. We'd urge all members to take a few moments to read about the program and think about getting involved.

What's it all about?

During Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week, CPSU members and their families will be asked to 'sign on to save a life' as part of a national registration drive to encourage more potential donors to become part of the Australian Organ Donor Register.

About the register

The register was launched in November 2000. It's Australia's only national register and is literally a lifeline for the thousands of people on organ transplant lists. By registering to become an organ donor you are potentially making the greatest gift one human can give another - the gift of life and hope. The chances are that you are far more likely to need an organ yourself than you ever are to give one.

Need for action

Australia has one of the developed world's lowest organ donation rates, with just ten people per million involved. In Spain, the figure is 33.9 people per million. One organ donor has the potential to benefit up to ten other people. More than 30 000 Australians have received transplants in the last 60 years. The waiting period for a kidney transplant can sometimes be as long as four years. For a heart transplant it can be a year, and for a liver transplant, six months. Obviously these waiting times would be dramatically reduced with more organ and tissue donors available.

What you can do

To find out more about Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week:

• contact the Health Insurance Commission  ph 1800 777 203 or visit any Medicare office
• call the CPSU Members Service Centre on 1300 137 636 and we'll post you an information pack
• register online
• vist the CPSU Organ Donor Week campaign page

Authorised by Adrian O'Connell, CPSU National Secretary

For further information

Contact:	Margaret Gillespie
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	0407 560 931
Email:	Dermot.Browne@cpsu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.cpsu.org.au/campaigns/Organ/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]