Organ Donation

World’s Best Practice National Reform Package for Organ and Tissue Donation for Transplantation

Information about the Australian Government’s proposed reform package for organ and tissue donation for transplantation.

A world’s best practice approach to organ and tissue donation for transplantation

On 2 July 2008 the Australian Government proposed a total Commonwealth funding package of $151.1 million, including new funding of $136.4 million over four years, for measures to significantly improve Australians’ access to life saving organ transplants.

In 2007, 198 Australians give the ultimate gift by donating their solid organs. However, at the same time around 1,800 Australians are waiting for a solid organ transplant to save their lives or dramatically improve their quality of life.

The proposed funding package will establish Australia as a world leader in best practice organ donation for transplantation through an integrated and comprehensive national reform package.

These evidence based reforms have been designed using international and national best practice models with a proven track record of maximising donation rates. They also build on the work of the Cognate Committee for Organ and Tissue Donation and the recommendations of the National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation which consulted extensively with clinical and community experts.

Joint Media Release of the Prime Minister, Minister for Health and Ageing, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing [2 July 2008]

Factsheets - details of the World’s Best Practice Reform Package (PDF 85 KB)

Cognate Committee on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation

The Australian Government and all state and territory governments have, through the Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC), established a joint clinical, community and government group to advise governments and drive and oversee agreed reforms to lift our organ and tissue donation rates.

The new ‘Cognate Committee’, so called to recognise the joint effort required to address this challenge, met for the first time on 22 April 2008.

For media enquiries about the Cognate Committee and/or national organ and tissue donation or transplantation issues please contact the Department of Health and Ageing’s media unit on (02) 6289 5027.

Cognate Committee’s Terms of Reference (PDF 8 KB)

Cognate Committee Membership List (PDF 12 KB)

National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation

The National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation was established in October 2006 to provide advice on ways to improve the rate of safe, effective and ethical organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Australia. The Taskforce consulted extensively with clinical and community based experts throughout its term.

The Taskforce provided its final report to the Government on 14th February 2008.
National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation - Final Report

The Taskforce had earlier delivered a mid-term report in June 2007.
Mid Term Report - June 2007 (PDF 406 KB)

If you are having problems downloading the reports please contact: acd.webmaster@health.gov.au