About The Trust

The Heart and Lung Transplant Trust (Vic) Inc

The Trust is the Association for the Transplant Patients and Recipients of the Transplant Unit of the Alfred Hospital Melbourne, their Families and Friends.

The Twelve Key Objectives in Our Constitution

• Provide peer support and encouragement for all pre and post heart and lung transplant patients their families and/or their carers

The need for peer support provided the impetus to form the Family Trust, the forerunner to this Association.  The time waiting for a transplant or recovering from a recent transplant operation can be stressful for patients, their families or their carers.  It is well known that people with good peer support do better both mentally and physically.  The support provided by others who have had the same or similar experiences can help through difficult times

• Raise funds and accept donations as appropriate for the transplant clinics at The Alfred

Many of us joined the "Trust" to give something back through supporting our fellow patients and The Alfred.  Money received through generous donations, or raised from raffles and other fund raising activities, is used to purchase medical equipment, fund transplant related research or anything else that can assist The Alfred's Transplant Unit or associated wards

• Provide relevant information and encourage healthy lifestyle choices to ensure the maintenance of optimal physical health

Being as well as possible before your transplant will make it easier for you and your organ to stay healthy after your transplant.  Good nutrition and healthy living are important both before and after your transplant.

• Engender fraternal feelings amongst pre and post heart and lung transplant patients and their families through social activities

The Christmas and Easter BBQs have always been well attended and provide a great chance to meet others.  Other social events will be held from time to time.

• Promote the recognition and acknowledgment of the donor and donor family

Those of us who are alive today because we received a transplant hope that donor families feel a sense of comfort in knowing that because of their decision to donate, someone will live and other families will be saved the pain of a loved one's death.  The Trust supports the Annual Thanksgiving Service and also encourages its members to participate to remember and acknowledge the many people who have given the "Gift of Life".

• Increase public awareness of the need for organ donation

There are nearly two thousand Australians currently on waiting lists and sadly some patients will die before a suitable organ becomes available.  Members of the Trust actively promote organ donation.  The most crucial aim of the Trust is to increase the number of registrations on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

• Communicate to members through a periodic newsletter.

Keep membership informed as to what the Trust is doing through our periodic newsletter

• Inform its members in the prevention of diseases that may result in organ transplantation

We haven't discovered any special secrets, yet, but we do know that being conscientiousness to small details without becoming obsessive, such as hygiene, having your annual flu vaccination and being consistent with taking medications is important.  However it is still necessary to reinforce the message as often as possible to enhance patient outcomes.

• Consider and deal with all matters submitted to the Association by any member

To consider and deal with matters raised by members relating to the Trust's aims.

• Represent the interests of its members in any appropriate forum

To consider and deal with matters relating to the Trust's aims to any other body.

• Foster links with other bodies with similar interests in the pursuit of these objects

There are a number of transplant associations who share similar interests. We need to combine efforts to stimulate public response to the need for organ donation.

• Undertake to do all things which are necessary, incidental or conductive to the Advancement of these objects

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