On 2 July 2008, the Australian Government announced a new national reform package, A World's Best Practice Approach to Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation.
The aim of the Commonwealth-funded $151.1million national reform package is to establish Australia as a world leader in best practice organ and tissue donation and transplantation and to achieve a significant and lasting increase in the number of life-saving and life-transforming transplants for all Australians.
The national reform program is built on international best practice and experience, together with the findings of the National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation, the expertise and recommendations of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and a number of other stakeholders.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the reform package on 3 July 2008 and agreed that the Commonwealth would lead implementation in partnership with states and territories.
The Organ and Tissue Authority (the Authority) was established on 1 January 2009, as part of the national reform package. The Authority's role is to establish - in partnership with states, territories, clinicians, consumers and the community - a nationally coordinated approach to organ and tissue donation for transplantation. The Authority is also responsible for administering funds to non-government organisations to provide essential associated services, aligned to its purpose.
Read the nine measures of the national reform package.
