{"id":153543,"date":"2016-08-03T00:34:40","date_gmt":"2016-08-02T14:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=153543"},"modified":"2020-10-08T15:33:18","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T05:33:18","slug":"greatest-gift-is-donating-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/08\/03\/greatest-gift-is-donating-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Greatest Gift Is Donating Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dialysis patient Peggy Duncan, from Wondai, with Kingaroy State High School students Jesse-Lea Bath, Mikaylah Pygall and Brooke Steinhardt in the Kingaroy Hospital Renal Unit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 2, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talking about organ donations can be tricky subject, especially when the people you’re talking to are in the prime of their life … but former Kingaroy resident Bianca Topp is an old hand at it now.<\/p>\n

Bianca has been coming to Kingaroy for several years to present a health workshop to Year 12 students at Kingaroy State High School.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, 23 students from the school attended her latest workshop to help demystify organ and tissue donation.<\/p>\n

The students were also escorted through the hospital’s Renal Unit by kidney dialysis nurse Robyn Bailey.<\/p>\n

They had the opportunity to speak to patients who were receiving their regular dialysis treatments because of failing kidneys.<\/p>\n

The visit also coincided with DonateLife Week (July 31- August 7), a nationwide campaign to encourage Australians \u00a0to sign onto the Australian Organ Donor Register.<\/p>\n

“Many people in our community still think that this is still on our (driving) licence and this is not the case,” Bianca said.<\/p>\n

“We want everyone in our community to sign onto the Register and to take that decision-making burden off grieving families.<\/p>\n

“I myself am a former KSHS student but now co-ordinate organ donation for people all over Queensland, from Cairns to the Gold Coast.”<\/p>\n

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Kingaroy State High School health education teacher Megan Binnie, acting nurse practitioner at the Kingaroy Renal Unit Robyn Bailey, and Donation Specialist co-ordinator Bianca Topp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Year 12 students Taylah Curley and Grace Bredhauer with some of the DonateLife branded merchandise designed to stimulate a discussion about organ donations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Kingaroy State High School Year 12 students learning more about organ donation at Kingaroy Hospital on Tuesday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

DonateLife Week<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

During DonateLife Week, Australians of all ages are being encouraged to join the Australian Organ Donor Register online.<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the Organ and Tissue Authority, less than one-third of Australian adults are on the national Donor Register, despite the majority of Australians being willing to donate.<\/p>\n

Registering a decision removes doubt from family members.<\/p>\n

In 2015, organ donation proceeded in 91 per cent of cases where the deceased was a registered donor.<\/p>\n

This figure dropped to just 52 per cent if the deceased was not registered and the family had no prior knowledge of their wishes.<\/p>\n

Currently there are more than 1500 people in Australia waiting for a transplant.<\/p>\n

The Australian Organ Donor Register is the only national register to record a donation decision.<\/p>\n