The Organ and Tissue Authority (the Authority) was established on 1 January 2009. The Authority was established under the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Act 2008 (the Act),as part of the Australian Government's new national reform package, A World's Best Practice Approach to Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation.

The Authority is an independent statutory authority within the Australian Government Health and Ageing portfolio.

The purpose of the Authority 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.

While Australia is recognised as a world leader in transplantation medicine, the number of organ and tissue donations in Australia is low by global standards. The national reform program provides an unprecedented opportunity to transform and save more Australian lives.