Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash and Minister for Human Services Marise Payne launched a new collection of resources about organ and tissue donation.

Minister Nash said the translated DonateLife resources will meet a need in the community that hasn’t existed beofre.

She wants the translated documents to help families bridge the issue of organ donation.

“We know that Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are less likely to have discussed or decided about organ and tissue donation.”

“The resources will assist in overcoming language barriers to support all Australians to make and register their donation decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register, and more importantly to understand the organ and tissue donation process.

The resources include the DonateLife brochure, which provides information on the importance of decision-making and family discussion about donation decisions as well as a registration form for the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).

To support donor families, the in-language ‘Understanding Death and Donation’ booklet will assist with understanding the donation process and support decision-making about their loved one becoming an organ and tissue donor. The ‘In Reflection’ booklet provides information for donor families in dealing with the grieving process.

The in-language resources are the latest initiative of the Organ and Tissue Authority’s (OTA) ‘DonateLife…the greatest gift’ community education campaign. The campaign, conducted in consultation with religious and community leaders, facilitates access to culturally appropriate and in-language resources for diverse faith and cultural communities in Australia.

“I encourage every Australian to make a decision about organ and tissue donation, and to record that decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register,” Minister Payne said.

“It is essential that we reach out to all communities on the topic of organ and tissue donation. People from all walks of life depend on organ and tissue donations regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion or language.”

The resources are now available in 18 languages: Arabic, Chinese (traditional), Greek, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Dinka, Somali, Dari, Punjabi, Indonesian (Bahasa), and others.

The resources are available online at http://www.donatelife.gov.au/brochures-0