Young South Australians are being urged to register as organ donors and have conversations with their families, to help save lives should the unthinkable happen.

The state government says that while South Australia significantly leads the nation in organ donation registration, only 40 per cent of South Australians aged 16 to 24 are on the register, compared with 70 to 84 per cent for older age groups.

South Australia is the only state where people can register on the Australian Organ Donor Registry through their driver's licence. Anyone aged 16 or over can register.

Because of the driver’s licence scheme, South Australia leads the nation with 74 percent of eligible people registering their wish to become an organ donor. That is more than twice the national average.

More than half of all 16 to 17-year-olds on the national register are from South Australia.

Health Minister Chris Picton says South Australians should be proud of the fact that we lead the nation in organ donation registration. Our sign-up rate is more than double the national average.

“There is no doubt this is helped by our unique system of being able to register when you get or renew your driver’s licence.

“We’re urging even more South Australians – particularly young people – to register to give the gift of life to others. Getting your driver’s licence is the perfect opportunity to sign up.

“Of course, no young person or their family wants to imagine the worst happening at the wheel, but having those serious conversations about responsibility on the roads is the perfect time to talk about the amazing gift of organ donation.”

DonateLife SA Medical Director Dr Stewart Moodie and other advocates want more young South Australians to sign up and talk to their families about their wishes.

“Talk to your family, have that conversation. Time and again we see that it helps a family in the midst of their devastation when the person has registered and discussed their wishes. 

“This is particularly important for the family of a young person, where they see that their tragedy can do such good.”

One organ donor can save the lives of up to seven people and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation.

Adelaide father and organ donation advocate Oren Klemich lost his 18-year-old son Jack to Meningococcal disease 16 years ago.

“Our gorgeous son Jack was pronounced dead 16 years ago having contracted Meningococcal disease. He was 18 years old, studying Year 12.

“He had registered as an organ donor through his driver’s licence registration. At the time of registering, he had asked his mother, ‘Mum, what’s organ donation?’ Her reply was, ‘If something horrible happens to you, the doctors can give your organs to someone else.’

“Jack ticked the box to register, and sadly, several months later, he died. Five of his organs were received by four people around Australia. Jack saved the lives of four Australians. Sixteen years on, three are still alive today.

“Losing Jack was the worst time of our lives, but the knowledge of his organs saving other people’s lives provides us comfort.”

More than 1,800 Australians are waiting for an organ transplant but sadly in the past five years, more than 200 have died waiting. An additional 14,000 on dialysis for kidney failure might also benefit from a transplant.

Families have the final decision in organ donation, which is why it’s so important for people to register and talk to their loved ones. 

When people are registered, eight out of ten families give consent for the organ donation, but that drops to four out of ten if the family is not aware of their relative’s intentions.

The plea for more young South Australians in particular to become organ donors comes ahead of national DonateLife week, 27 July to 3 August.

People can register on the DonateLife website, through their driver’s licence registration or renewal, or through Medicare.