The Rudd Government has today announced a 15-member Advisory Council to help drive its new national approach to lifting Australia's organ and tissue donation and transplantation rates.
The Advisory Council will be headed by businessman and double-lung transplant recipient Sam Chisholm.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the membership of the Advisory Council when he launched the ACT Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week today.
The Rudd Government is committed to establishing Australia as a world leader in best practice organ and tissue donation for transplants.
Despite more than 90 per cent of Australians supporting the idea of organ donation, Australia has a longstanding shortage of organs for transplantation, with nearly 1,800 Australians on official transplant waiting lists.
The Advisory Council will support the recently-appointed Chief Executive Officer of the new Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority, Karen Murphy.
Together these organisations will lead a best practice, coordinated national approach to organ and tissue donation for transplant in Australia. The Advisory Council will be comprised of a cross-section of people across Australia involved in the organ and tissue donation sector.
This new body will bring the widest possible perspective to help drive the Government's much-needed reforms in this area - from the Chair's own experience as a transplant recipient, to a range of stakeholder and consumer interests, including donor families, people awaiting transplants, health professionals and experts in the field.
The Rudd Government is investing an unprecedented $151.1 million over the next four years to reform organ and tissue donation in Australia and boost the number of life-saving and life-transforming transplants.
These reforms present a genuine opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of thousands of Australians. We are committed to achieving a significant and lasting increase in the number of transplants in Australia.
A key element of the reforms is a four-year national community education and awareness program to give Australians regular, clear, factual and relevant information about organ and tissue donation, the benefits of transplantation, and how they can make a difference.
The campaign is encouraging all Australians to discuss their wishes about donation with their family, friends and loved ones.
Members of the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Advisory Council
Name
Role
Key Expertise
Mr Sam Chisholm
Chair
Business and executive experience in the media sector, and double-lung transplant recipient
Dr David Boadle
Member
Public health administrator, with a particular interest in organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Ms Anne Cahill Lambert AM
Member
Consumer advocate for organ and tissue donation and related health issues, and awaiting a lung transplant
Dr Anthony Cross
Member
Emergency physician and intensivist
Prof Don Chalmers
Member
Expertise in health law and ethics
Prof Jeremy Chapman OAM
Member
Renal physician, with expertise in bone marrow and cord blood treatments
Prof Geoff Dobb
Member
Intensivist, with experience in brain death and organ donation
Dr Marisa Herson
Member
Donor tissue expertise
Prof John Horvath AO
Member
Public health administrator, awarded an Order of Australia for services to medicine
Mr David Koch
Member
Business and financial expertise
Ms Rachel Martin
Member
Family of a deceased donor, and works with children with special needs providing early intervention and family support services
Dr Gerry O'Callaghan
Member
Intensivist, with experience in brain death and ethical guidelines for organ and tissue donation
Dr Amanda Rischbieth
Member
National President of the Australian College
of Critical Care Nurses
Dr Dianne Stephens OAM
Member
Intensivist, awarded the Medal of The Order of Australia for her role in the management of critically ill Bali bombing victims
Dr Russell Strong AC
Member
Liver transplant surgeon and experience in a state based organ donation agency