Public hearings for the Legislative Assembly’s Legal and Social Issues Committee Inquiry into increasing the number of registered organ and tissue donors commenced this week.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, the Deputy Chair of the Legal and Social Issues Committee, hoped the inquiry would raise awareness and identify the barriers preventing organ donation across the state.
Ahead of the hearings, Ms Cleeland met with Shepparton-based organ donor advocate Allan Turner to identify opportunities to improve the current system.
“After speaking with Allan, it was clear that there remains a lot of issues with the current organ donor system,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We’ve received several submissions from people across Victoria, and I’m glad that we’ll hear from the relevant stakeholders during the hearings this week.
“Improving the number of donors within Victoria will help save lives. The consent rates have declined over the last year and is important to see what can be done to increase those numbers.”
The inquiry ultimately aims to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors, and will hear from stakeholders on a variety of matters including:
- The effectiveness of the current model for registering to be an organ and tissue donor in Victoria,
- Issues impacting organ and tissue donation rates,
- Opportunities to improve organ and tissue donation rates, and
- National and international models for registering to be an organ and tissue donor.
Submissions have so far been received by individuals, not-for-profits, professors, medical professionals, religious organisations, advocacy groups, and hospitals.
