What’s happening?
Queenslanders are being asked to formalise their organ and tissue donation wishes during DonateLife Week.
The annual campaign runs from Sunday, 26 July to Sunday, 2 August. It encourages residents to register and discuss their decision with family.
New council-level data compares registrations added during 2025 with those recorded in 2024. It also estimates the proportion of eligible residents registered in each Queensland council area.
The results show clear differences across the state. Several smaller western communities recorded high participation, while many larger council areas reported fewer new registrations.
Anyone aged 16 or older can register through DonateLife or Medicare. The process takes about one minute.
Why it matters?
Most Australians support organ and tissue donation, but formal registration remains much lower. This gap can leave families uncertain when they are asked to consider donation.
DonateLife says families are more likely to agree when they already know the person’s wishes.
DonateLife Queensland Nursing Director Tina Coco AO said about 2,000 Australians currently need an organ transplant.
“There are currently around 2,000 Australians on the organ transplant waitlist who need Australia’s help,” Ms Coco said. “For those waiting it can be a matter of life and death.”
“This DonateLife Week, I’m urging everyone to please register as an organ and tissue donor. Then, talk to your family, let them know you want to be a donor, someone’s life depends on it. Registering as an organ and tissue donor is important because most families agree to donation when they know you want to be a donor.”
Local Impact
Redlands recorded 1,121 new organ donor registrations during 2025, compared with 1,310 in the previous year. The result represents a 14% decline, with 189 fewer residents joining the register.
Despite the slower annual result, Redlands continues to record a higher registration rate than Queensland and Australia overall. An estimated 47,572 local residents are registered, representing 37% of the eligible population.
This means Redland remains ahead of the broader averages, although the fall in new registrations shows that local participation lost momentum during 2025.
By the Numbers
- Only 30% of eligible Queenslanders are registered donors, compared with 35 per cent across Australia.
- About 2,000 Australians are waiting for an organ transplant, and some die before a suitable organ becomes available.
- One organ donor can save up to seven lives and help others through eye and tissue donation.
Zoom In
Redlands’ overall registration rate sits seven percentage points above Queensland’s average and two points above the national figure. However, its 14 per cent fall in new registrations follows a broader decline across many Queensland council areas.
Several smaller communities recorded some of the state’s highest participation rates. Barcoo led the listed council areas at 53%, followed by Bulloo at 45%. Quilpie recorded 42% , while Winton reached 40 per cent.
Among larger coastal areas, Noosa recorded 44% and the Sunshine Coast reached 42%. Redlands’ 37% rate remained higher than Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which recorded 33 and 34% respectively.
The council figures are estimates because registrations are recorded by postcode and matched with local government boundaries. Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates were used to calculate the eligible population aged 16 and older.
Registrations linked to post office boxes were excluded because those postcodes do not correspond with a resident population. Council areas below 10 per cent were listed generally as having less than 10 per cent registered.
Zoom Out
For transplant recipient Sienna Howkins, registration is more than a figure. A donated heart saved her life when she was 19.
“I’m so thankful to have a heart, and to my donor,” Ms Howkins said.
“I’m trying to do the most with what I have to give for my donor family as well. In my heart, I know they’ll be very happy to see that I’m living the biggest life I can. I’m able to live this life because of them.”
Her experience reflects the effect one donor can have on patients and their families. Eye and tissue donation can also improve the lives of many more people.
The figures draw on the Organ and Tissue Authority’s 2025 data release, Services Australia and Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates. Waitlist data came from the 2025 ANZOD Annual Report.
What To Look For Next?
DonateLife Week continues until Sunday, 2 August, with Queenslanders encouraged to register and speak with their families.
