Australians Donate (AD) is funded by the Australian, State and Territory Governments to act as the peak body for the organ and tissue donation sector.

The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), on behalf of the Australian, State and Territory Governments, engaged AHA to conduct an independent review of Australians Donate’s performance over the current funding triennium 2004/05 to 2006/07.

AHA assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of AD in achieving its objectives as stipulated in the Funding Agreement. Specifically, AHA assessed AD’s performance regarding:
•Governance arrangements
•Project delivery
•Reporting
•Financial accountability and record keeping.
AHA undertook a broad consultation process which aimed to be inclusive of all interested parties, in order to capture the full range of views present in the sector.

In conducting the review, AHA was cognisant of the complexity of the environment in which AD operates. The organ and tissue donation sector is a collective of medical, nursing, research and public advocates for the sector, who are united by a common interest-notably organ and tissue donation. However, this is not to say that the different groups have a uniform view regarding the direction that organ and tissue donation services should take in Australia, or how to increase the donor rate.