South Australia is calling on every state and territory to make organ and tissue donor registration available through driver’s licences, as the state continues to lead the nation in donor participation.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Blair Boyer will take the proposal to this week’s Health Ministers’ Meeting, advocating for a simple reform that could help save thousands of lives nationwide.
South Australia currently allows residents to register their organ and tissue donation intentions when applying for or renewing their driver’s licence, and the results speak for themselves.
A huge 74 per cent of South Australians are registered donors, compared with the national average of just 35 per cent.
Among younger South Australians, the difference is even bigger. Around 41 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 are registered donors in SA, compared with only 7 per cent nationally. Even more remarkably, 90 per cent of those young South Australians signed up through their driver’s licence.
The initiative makes registering quick, easy, and part of an everyday interaction, no extra paperwork, no extra steps, just one small decision that could one day change someone’s life.
“South Australia is proud to be leading the way on organ and tissue donation, and we believe the evidence makes a strong case for national adoption.” Minister Boyer said.
“With a registration rate more than double the national average, this is a model that deserves serious consideration across the country.”
The push comes at a crucial time. Around 2,000 Australians are currently waiting for an organ transplant, while a further 14,000 people are on dialysis for kidney failure, many of whom could also benefit from a transplant.
Yet despite four in five Australians supporting organ donation, only about one in three are officially registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
In 2025 alone, 557 donors helped save or transform the lives of 1,438 transplant recipients.
South Australia’s proposal has already gained strong support, including unanimous backing from the Police Commissioners Forum last year.
“Including organ and tissue donation on drivers’ licences removes barriers and prompts people to make a decision at a familiar and trusted point in their lives.
“South Australia’s registration rate of 74 per cent speaks for itself. This is a straightforward reform that we believe should be adopted nationally.
“Greater national consistency would not only raise awareness, but it would also help normalise donation and empower more families to honour their loved one’s wishes – and ultimately save lives.”
By making donor registration part of a routine driver’s licence transaction, South Australia has shown that small policy changes can deliver enormous outcomes.
Now, the state is hoping the rest of Australia will get on board, because when it comes to saving lives, every registration counts.
