Welcome to the WeCare app. You will find two sets of videos about organ donation and registration on this app.
Our Community Produced videos answer commonly held questions; these videos were written, acted and produced by the Community Advisory Panel specifically for the Lebanese community.
Our Donation Specialist Doctor videos answer specific medical questions that people have asked.
You can choose which videos you would like to watch using the buttons at the bottom of this page.
Click to hear about this research or click to read the Participant Information Sheet
Please listen to Dr David Abi-Hanna tell you what this research is about and why it is important.
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David is a gastroenterologist and has been working in the southwest of Sydney since 1998. He has a special interest in endoscopy and uses his skills to diagnose and treat many gastrointestinal disorders including cancers. He is based at Liverpool Hospital and has private rooms nearby. David grew up in Lebanon and came to Australia at the age of 17 to continue his studies. He feels privileged to have experienced life in both his native Lebanon as well as his beloved Sydney and Australia more generally. David has been involved in many health committees and is particularly proud of his work during the COVID pandemic, encouraging his fellow Lebanese Australians to get vaccinated. Although not directly involved in transplantation, he was keen to contribute to the WeCare project, knowing how important organ donation is to health outcomes in those needing transplants.
Our names are Associate Professor Gail Moloney, Pierre Georges, Professor Marie Hutchinson and Maddison Norton. You will find the names of the other members of the Lebanese Advisory Panel underneath each video on the video buffet page. This study is aimed at increasing awareness about organ donation and registration in the Lebanese community.
Together, members of the Lebanese Advisory Panel have co-created short videos about organ donation and registration for the Lebanese community. The videos address some of the issues that people may not know or have concerns about. It is important that we understand what members of the Lebanese community think about the videos. We are really interested in what you have to say!
You can choose how many videos you would like to watch. There are some anonymous questions to answer at the start and after each of the videos. You will also be given an opportunity to register your organ donation decision on The Australian Organ Donor Register - this is entirely up to you.
While you will not be paid to participate in this research, there are a few potential benefits. You will have the opportunity to learn about organ donation and registration by watching videos made by people in your community. The findings of this research will also support strategies for engaging with the Lebanese community and other culturally diverse communities about organ donation and registration.
This research has been assessed as low risk. However, if any of the questions or videos make you feel distressed, you are free to skip that question or withdraw from the study completely. If you need additional support about any of the issues these discussions raise, please contact:
Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Embrace Multicultural Health http://embracementalhealth.org.au
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre NSW
https://www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/transcultural-mental-health-centre
Your responses to the questions are completely anonymous, and you will not be asked to provide any personal information. The findings of this study may be published in a peer-reviewed journal. All data collected in this study will be stored safely and securely at Southern Cross University for a minimum of 5 years after publication.
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. If you choose to withdraw by closing the web browser, the answers you have already submitted may be used in the analysis.
If you would like to receive a summary of the results when this research is finished, please email gail.moloney@scu.edu.au.
If you have any questions about this research, please contact:
Associate Professor Gail Moloney
Faculty of Health (Psychology)
Southern Cross University
Coffs Harbour Campus
Email: gail.moloney@scu.edu.au
This study adheres to the Guidelines of the ethical review process of Southern Cross University and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Whilst you are free to discuss your participation in this study with the researcher contactable on gail.moloney@scu.edu.au, if you would like to speak to an officer of the University not involved in the study, you may contact the Ethics Officer on email ethics.lismore@scu.edu.au. All information is confidential and will be handled as soon as possible.
This research has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Southern Cross University. The approval number is 2022/098.
Before you watch the videos, could you please answer six short questions? Your answers will be anonymous, so we won't know who you are, but they will help us know a little about the people who watched the videos.
Could you please tell us?
2. Your gender
3. Your cultural group (e.g. Lebanese, Lebanese Australian)
4. Your religious or spiritual group
5. Your age
6. Your postcode
7. In Australia, organ donation intentions are recorded on the national Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR)
Select which best describes you?
8. Would you mind telling us how you found out about the WeCare Project?
Could you please tell us a little more? E.g. If it was a community event, which event? If it was a personal contact, who sent it to you?
Your responses will be automatically saved
Please watch as many videos as you would like. Once you open a video and watch it, a few questions will appear underneath. Your answers are anonymous and will help us understand what our community thinks about the videos
Pierre Georges and Camille Issa
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Pierre is the Tissue Donor Coordination Team Leader at the NSW Tissue Bank (NSW OTDS), bringing over 26 years of dedicated service to the field of organ and tissue donation. Pierre lived part of his childhood (age of 5 to 15) in Lebanon, forming great appreciation for its rich culture and traditions before he returned to Australia in 1990. Pierre is passionate about mentoring and community involvement. He coaches at Merrylands Soccer Football Club, where he inspires young people to recognise and achieve their potential—both on and off the field. Camille was born in Lebanon in 1970 but moved to Australia when he was only 6 years old. Camille went to school in the Cumberland area, studied to be a hairdresser & barber after school and has worked for his community for 40 years. He is passionate about his job and hopes one day to teach the younger generation by teaching at TAFE.
Chris Abi-Hanna
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Born in Sydney, Chris is of second generation Lebanese heritage, which he is extremely proud of. He returns often and is a Lebanese citizen, and wishes to spend much longer there in the future. He is currently completing a Masters of Professional Psychology at Notre Dame University, and wishes to help people in the field of mental health and disorders in clinical settings. His passions include music festivals, kibbeh nayeh, camping and travel.
Pierre Georges
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Pierre is the Tissue Donor Coordination Team Leader at the NSW Tissue Bank (NSW OTDS), bringing over 26 years of dedicated service to the field of organ and tissue donation. Pierre lived part of his childhood (age of 5 to 15) in Lebanon, forming great appreciation for its rich culture and traditions before he returned to Australia in 1990. Pierre is passionate about mentoring and community involvement. He coaches at Merrylands Soccer Football Club, where he inspires young people to recognise and achieve their potential—both on and off the field.
Vicky Georges and Christy El-Khoury
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Victoria is an actress and writer born and raised in Western Sydney. She is of proud Lebanese heritage, whose passion for the cause of organ donation stems from hearing about her father's work with the NSW Tissue Bank. She has dreams of writing and performing stories close to her experiences, hoping to capture the powerful spirit of Lebanese-Australian immigrants. Christy is an intensive care pharmacist at St George Hospital with a strong interest in research and improving patient outcomes. She is passionate about advocating for patients’ rights and delivering high-quality care. Christy has a natural curiosity and enjoys trying new things, from baking creative desserts and playing tennis to travelling and exploring history through diverse cultures and experiences.
Dr. David Abi-Hanna
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David is a gastroenterologist and has been working in the southwest of Sydney since 1998. He has a special interest in endoscopy and uses his skills to diagnose and treat many gastrointestinal disorders including cancers. He is based at Liverpool Hospital and has private rooms nearby. David grew up in Lebanon and came to Australia at the age of 17 to continue his studies. He feels privileged to have experienced life in both his native Lebanon as well as his beloved Sydney and Australia more generally. David has been involved in many health committees and is particularly proud of his work during the COVID pandemic, encouraging his fellow Lebanese Australians to get vaccinated. Although not directly involved in transplantation, he was keen to contribute to the WeCare project, knowing how important organ donation is to health outcomes in those needing transplants.
Mary Georges and Christy El-Khoury
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Mary is a secondary science and mathematics teacher at Cerdon College in Merrylands. Born and raised in Australia by Lebanese immigrants, she is of proud Lebanese heritage and is blessed with a wonderful husband and six beautiful children. She enjoys teaching and inspiring others to be good servants of humanity. Christy is an intensive care pharmacist at St George Hospital with a strong interest in research and improving patient outcomes. She is passionate about advocating for patients’ rights and delivering high-quality care. Christy has a natural curiosity and enjoys trying new things, from baking creative desserts and playing tennis to travelling and exploring history through diverse cultures and experiences.
Pierre Georges and Dr. David Abi-Hanna
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Pierre is the Tissue Donor Coordination Team Leader at the NSW Tissue Bank (NSW OTDS), bringing over 26 years of dedicated service to the field of organ and tissue donation. Pierre lived part of his childhood (from to 5 to 15 years) in Lebanon, forming great appreciation for its rich culture and traditions before he returned to Australia in 1990. Pierre is passionate about mentoring and community involvement. He coaches at Merrylands Soccer Football Club, where he inspires young people to recognise and achieve their potential—both on and off the field. David is a gastroenterologist and has been working in the southwest of Sydney since 1998. He has a special interest in endoscopy and uses his skills to diagnose and treat many gastrointestinal disorders including cancers. He is based at Liverpool Hospital and has private rooms nearby. David grew up in Lebanon and came to Australia at the age of 17 to continue his studies. He feels privileged to have experienced life in both his native Lebanon as well as his beloved Sydney and Australia more generally. David has been involved in many health committees and is particularly proud of his work during the COVID pandemic, encouraging his fellow Lebanese Australians to get vaccinated. Although not directly involved in transplantation, he was keen to contribute to the WeCare project, knowing how important organ donation is to health outcomes in those needing transplants.
Georges Family
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Pierre, his daughter Victoria, and his father John, who was born in Lebanon and migrated to Australia in 1970, have an intergenerational conversation about the numerous views regarding organ and tissue donation within the Lebanese community.
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Can you please answer the following questions
To what extent do you think:
The video included something positive about organ donation
The video included something you did not know about organ donation
To what extent do you think other people in your community would be interested in this video?
Your responses will be automatically saved
Please listen to this short audio on How to register your organ donation intention.
Audio in English by Pierre Georges
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Pierre is the Tissue Donor Coordination Team Leader at the NSW Tissue Bank (NSW OTDS), bringing over 26 years of dedicated service to the field of organ and tissue donation. Pierre lived part of his childhood (age of 5 to 15) in Lebanon, forming great appreciation for its rich culture and traditions before he returned to Australia in 1990. Pierre is passionate about mentoring and community involvement. He coaches at Merrylands Soccer Football Club, where he inspires young people to recognise and achieve their potential—both on and off the field.
If you would like to read about registration in another language, please click here.
Address of the Holy Father John Paul II to the 18th International Congress of The Transplantation Society (2000). Read the Address
Address by Pope Leo XIV at the General Assembly of the Italian National Transplant Network at the Vatican (2026). Read the Address
A Fatwa regarding organ donation by the Grand Mufti of Australia. Read the Fatwa
A video of support by Sheikh Jamal-Ud Din El- KiKi . Please watch Watch the video on youtube
Would you like to register your organ donation intention now?
You can register your intention by choosing which organs and tissue to donate OR by saying no to donation through Medicare using your MyGov account.
You can register your intention to donate all your organs and tissue at DonateLife
You can print a paper AODR form to register your intention by choosing which organs and tissue to donate OR to say no to donation. (Choose this option if you are on a visa and don't have medicare)
Registering your donation intention is not binding. You can change your registration or remove yourself from the AODR at any time through Medicare or on the paper AODR form.
Please take the time to talk with your Family about your donation intention.
Would you mind telling us if you did register your organ donation intention today?
Would you like to comment?
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Questions from the Community, answered by a Donation Specialist Doctor
Please click on the videos to watch Dr Ram Lakshmanan and Dr Michael Sutherland answer some of these questions or click on the written questions below to read the answer.
About Dr Ram and Dr Michael
Dr Ram is an Intensive Care specialist at Liverpool Hospital NSW, a Donation Specialist Doctor and a member of the SWS LHD Organ and Tissue Steering Committee.
Dr Michael Sutherland is a Donation Specialist Doctor with NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service and an Intensivist at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital.
Dr Ram and Dr Michael have extensive expertise and knowledge in organ donation and registration, as well as firsthand experience facilitating end-of-life discussions with next-of-kin.
Additional questions answered by Dr Ram and Dr Michael
Consent begins with trying to find out what the patient's wishes would be regarding organ donation. They may already have registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register or have told a family member or a friend about their donation wishes. In all cases, close family members will be asked for their views on whether organ donation should proceed. The key person for this decision is the senior available next of kin. Every effort will be made to contact this person (which may involve international communication), and if this is not possible, the next senior next of kin available will be asked whether organ donation should proceed.
Yes, if you register to donate all or some of your organs and tissues, you will, and an organ donor card will be sent to you in the mail after you have registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. You should also tell your family members and close friends that you have registered and that you have a donor card.
Your information will be stored in a secure national database. This database can only be accessed by authorised persons seeking to know your wishes in the event that you might be a potential organ donor after an accident or illness. You should also make an effort to inform close family and friends of your decision, as they may be the ones asked about that in the event of your death.
People on the transplant waiting list are cared for very closely by their specialist doctors while they wait. Some people do receive the organs they need in time, but, sadly, some people do become more unwell, and some people do die while waiting. That is why organ donation is so important — because for many people, a transplant is not just helpful, it is lifesaving.
Another important point is this: if you become an organ donor, your organs are not allocated based on whether the recipient is from your community. They are given to the person who is the best medical match. This decision is based on things like blood group, tissue compatibility, body size, medical urgency, and how suitable the match is.
So, in simple terms, the organs you donate will go to the person/people who most need them and are the safest and best match medically. The process is designed to be fair, ethical and based on clinical need.
Registration rates may be lower in some communities, including the Lebanese community, for many reasons — not because people care less, but often because of limited awareness about how to register, cultural or faith questions, language barriers, or simply because donation has not been discussed openly within families. In Australia, national work is underway to improve culturally appropriate education and awareness for diverse communities.
Lower registration rates do not mean a community is denied access to transplantation. In Australia, organs are allocated based on medical need and compatibility, not on how many people from a particular community have registered. The system is designed to be fair and based on clinical criteria.
At the same time, ethnic background can still matter in an important medical way. Some aspects of matching — especially tissue types and other inherited biological markers — can be more common in people with similar ancestry. That means having donors from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds can help the chances of finding the best possible match for some patients, especially for kidneys. So increasing donor registration in the Lebanese community is important — not because organs are reserved for one community, but because a more diverse donor pool can improve matching opportunities for everyone, including Lebanese patients.
A single donor's organ and tissue donation may save up to 7 lives and may help many more people through tissue donation. Some organs, like the heart, go to one person, while others can help more than one person — for example, two kidneys can help two people, two lungs may help one person or sometimes two, and a liver can sometimes be split for two recipients. Tissue donation can help even more people, because things like corneas, skin, bone, and heart tissue can benefit multiple recipients.
How it works - After organ donation is agreed to, specialist teams assess which organs and tissues are medically suitable. Each organ or tissue is then matched to the most appropriate recipient based on compatibility, urgency, size and other clinical factors.
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