Reviving Living Donor Kidney Transplantation in Australia.

Abstract

Australia's rate of living donor kidney transplantation has stagnated. In 2024, there were 253 living donor kidney transplants, down from 354 in 2008, with the living donor rate falling to 9.5 donors per million population-well below peer nations. Despite growth in deceased donation, waiting list times continue to lengthen and can now reach 6-7 years for some groups, reflecting the rising numbers of Australians living with kidney failure. Access is unequal: First Nations people receive few living donor transplants; women are more likely to donate than men but are less likely to receive a living donor transplant; and people from lower socio-economic groups are disadvantaged. Barriers include information gaps, limited multilingual resources, time-intensive workups and financial disincentives. A coordinated reset, supported by national leadership, contemporary guidance, better data and streamlined, culturally safe pathways can restore growth.