The facts about the NSW RTA Registry
Organ and Tissue Donor registration offers people the opportunity to sign a registry to save lives after their death by indicating their decision to be an organ donor and tissue donor.
It also registers what organs and tissues they wish to donate should they be identified as a potential organ and tissue donor at the time of their death.
It provides people with an opportunity to indicate to their family their decision to be an organ donor. This registration guides their family at the time of the death of their loved one, which is often a very traumatic time for families.
If families know the decision of a loved one and it is also recorded then organ donation is more likely to proceed.
How do I register?
Registration for organ donation in NSW can be achieved in two ways -
- By ticking the box on your NSW RTA drivers licence
- By registering on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR)
Both methods of registration for organ donation are legally valid and at the time of death, both registries are checked to determine organ donor status.
Donor Coordinators check the registries, and even if death occurs outside of NSW the NSW Registry is checked to determine registration details.
Families are guided by the registration and they can proceed to authorise organ donation with confidence knowing that their loved one had registered as an organ donor.
Registration for organ donation on the NSW RTA Registry has been operating in NSW since 1984.
For over 25 years the Database has given NSW drivers a convenient form of registration at the time they apply or renew their drivers licence.
How do I find out more about organ donation at the NSW RTA Motor Registry?
A brochure called 'Organ Donors Save Lives' is available at all NSW RTA Motor registry offices to help people make an informed decision about organ donation at the time they apply for or renew their drivers licence.
The brochure is also available in Chinese (simple and traditional characters), Arabic, Italian, Greek and Vietnamese. For a copy of a translated brochure please call 02. 9229 4003.
NSW Drivers can choose which organs they wish to donate and they sign the box on the drivers licence to register as an organ donor.
Registration on the AODR came into operation as a way of registering for organ donation in November 2000.
At the time the AODR came in, many states and territories decided not to continue registrations with their state Motor registry. NSW has continued to use the RTA Motor registry for registration of organ donation.
Registration Statistics
Currently on the NSW RTA registry as at 31st December 2008 there are 4,687,938 people registered as organ donors from the NSW population over 16years of age.
There are 1,382,972 drivers in NSW who have expressly registered 'NO' to organ donation.
There are 988,405 drivers in NSW who have not indicated their decision about organ donation on their driver's licence.
Currently on the AODR as at 28th February 2008 there are 2325,390 people in NSW registered as organ donors, and there are 3482 people in NSW who have expressly registered 'NO' to organ donation.
The AODR figures include an upload of registrations from NSW RTA database that was conducted in 2004.
The NSW RTA registry has the most numbers of recorded organ donor registrations and also for 'NO' registrations to organ donation.
How do I change my decision on the NSW RTA Motor Registry?
Once a 'NO' is recorded on the NSW RTA registry it means that organ donation will not proceed.
HUMAN TISSUE ACT 1983 - SECT 23
To change your decision on the NSW Registry from 'NO' to 'YES' must be made in writing and signed by you.
It can be made by filling out a 'Change of Details' form available from the RTA or, if the licence renewal is imminent, by changing your details on the drivers licence renewal form and signing the box on this form.