Organisation at a glance
Our Vision
Saving and improving Australian lives through a world-class blood supply.
Our role
The National Blood Authority (NBA) is a statutory agency within the Australian government health portfolio that manages and coordinates arrangements for the supply of blood and blood products and services on behalf of all Australian governments.
All Australian governments are parties to the National Blood Agreement. The primary objectives of the National Blood Agreement are to:
- provide an adequate, safe, secure and affordable supply of blood products, blood related products and blood related services
- promote safe, high quality management and use of blood products, blood related products and blood related services in Australia.
The NBA
- works with all Australian governments to determine the clinical requirements for blood and blood products and develop an annual supply plan and budget
- negotiates and manages national contracts with suppliers of blood and blood products to obtain the products needed
- assesses blood supply risk and develops commensurate contingency planning
- supports the work of all Australian governments to improve the way blood products are governed, managed and used – including developing and facilitating strategies and programs that will improve the safety, quality and effectiveness of blood usage, particularly in the areas of national standards, criteria, guidelines and data capture and analysis
- works collaboratively with key stakeholders to provide expert advice to support government policy development, including identification of emerging risks, developments, trends and new opportunities
- manages the evaluation of proposals for blood sector improvements, including proposals for new products, technologies and system changes
- provides secretariat support to the Jurisdictional Blood Committee (JBC).
Authority
The NBA was established by the National Blood Aurthority Act 2003 (NBA Act) following the signing of the National Blood Agreement by all state and territory Health Ministers in November 2002. As a material statutory agency, the NBA has a range of corporate and compliance responsibilities under the NBA Act, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), and the Public Service Act 1999, along with a responsibility to meet ministerial, parliamentary and financial reporting requirements.
Accountable Authority
Details of the NBA’s Accountable Authority during the current report period (2019-20) appear in Table 1.2 below.
Name | Position title/position held | Date of commencement | Date of cessation |
Mr John Cahill | Chief Executive | October 2016 | n/a |
Responsible Ministers and Portfolio
The NBA exists within the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Health. The NBA General Manager is the Chief Executive of the NBA and is a statutory officer responsible to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council.
On 29 May 2020 the Prime Minister announced that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will cease and a new National Federation Reform Council (NFRC) will be formed, with a National Cabinet at the centre of the NFRC. More information is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
Our Outcome
Providing access to a secure supply of safe and affordable blood products, including through national supply arrangements and coordination of best practice standards within agreed funding policies under the national blood arrangements.
Funding
The National Blood Agreement provides for shared funding of NBA activities, with 63 per cent provided by the Commonwealth and the remaining 37 per cent provided by the state and territory governments. The funding covers both the national blood supply and the operations of the NBA.
During the last ten years, governments have provided funding of $10,677.6 million for the supply of blood and blood products as summarised in Table 1.3. In 2019-20, the total amount provided was $1,210.8 million. Governments provided funding of $10.0 million in 2019-20 for the operation of the NBA.
Year | Amount ($M) | Growth (%) |
2010-11 | 939.2 | 6.9 |
2011-12 | 1,015.6 | 8.1 |
2012-13 | 1,049.3 | 3.3 |
2013-14 | 1,095.9 | 4.4 |
2014-15 | 922.7 | -15.8 |
2015-16 | 1,040.9 | 12.8 |
2016-17 | 1,046.3 | 0.5 |
2017-18 | 1,153.3 | 10.2 |
2018-19 | 1,203.6 | 4.4 |
2019-20 | 1,210.8 | 0.6 |
Total | 10,677.6 | 3.0 (average) |
Note: Figures balance to the Audited Financial Statements
Our Staff
As at 30 June 2020 the NBA had an average staffing level (full time equivalent) of 58.58 staff. At this date, it also employed 26 contract staff. The organisational structure at 30 June 2020 is shown at Figure 1.1.
Location
The NBA is located in Canberra at 243 Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham, ACT.
Key Events in the NBA's History by Financial Year
2003 | Established by the National Blood Authority Act 2003 following the signing of the National Blood Agreement by all State and Territory Health Ministers in November 2002 |
2003-04 | Commencement of national supply arrangements for imported intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) to ensure sufficiency of supply in all jurisdictions |
2004-05 | Commencement of an adequate supply of recombinant Factors VIII and IX to fully meet demand |
2005-06 | NBA executed a Deed of Agreement with the Australian Red Cross Society for the provision of fresh blood products and plasma for fractionation NBA won the Prime Minister's Silver Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management for procurement of recombinant (manufactured) products |
2006-07 | First edition of Criteria for the clinical use of IVIg in Australia was approved |
2007-08 | Launch of the National Blood Supply Contingency Plan (NBSCP) to provide clear governance for managing blood shortages Launch of the redeveloped Australian Bleeding Disorders Registry (ABDR) to better support planning and clinical management of people with bleeding disorders |
2008-09 | Establishment of the Australian National Haemovigilance Program to report on serious transfusion related adverse events NBA was awarded the Australian Government Comcover Award for Excellence in Risk Management for the NBSCP |
2009-10 | New CSL Australian Fractionation Agreement came into effect NBA won a United Nations Public Service Award in the Advancing Knowledge Management in Government category |
2010-11 | National rollout of BloodNet, an online web based blood ordering system Release of the first module (Critical Bleeding/Massive Transfusion) of the Patient Blood Management (PBM) Guidelines |
2011-12 | Release of PBM Guidelines Module 2 Perioperative and Module 3 Medical Second edition of the Criteria for the clinical use of Ig in Australia was published |
2012-13 | Release of PBM Guidelines Module 4 Critical Care Inaugural National Blood Symposiums conducted in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide |
2013-14 | National rollout of MyABDR Inaugural PBM Conference held in Perth Immunoglobulin governance program and National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee (NIGAC) established |
2014-15 | NBA won ACT iAwards in three categories for innovation surrounding the development of BloodNet interfaces with health provider laboratory information systems National Blood Symposium held in Brisbane, including the presentation of the inaugural National Blood Awards for Excellence in the Management of Blood Release of PBM Guidelines Module 5 Obstetrics and Maternity |
2015-16 | A new Deed of Agreement was finalised with the Australian Red Cross Society for the provision of fresh blood products and plasma for fractionation supplied by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Release of PBM Guidelines Module 6 Neonatal and Paediatrics Release of National Haemophilia Guidelines developed with the Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors' Organisation (AHCDO) National Blood Sector Research and Development Pilot commenced BloodSTAR launched for registration by hospitals and clinicians |
2016-17 | The Deed of Agreement with the Australian Red Cross Society for the provision of fresh blood products and plasma for fractionation supplied by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service implemented on 1 July 2016 BloodSTAR implemented in most states and territories Round 2 of the National Blood Sector Research and Development Pilot commenced Redevelopment of BloodNet commenced (BloodNet 5) Negotiations to replace CSL Australian Fractionation Agreement commenced |
2017-18 | National Fractionation Agreement for Australia (NaFAA) commenced on 1 January 2018 and continues until 31 December 2026 subject to a review in 2022 National Blood Sector Research and Development Program continued with two further funding rounds BloodSafe eLearning delivered more than 1 million courses and celebrated its ten year (10th) anniversary Consultation for potential future arrangements for imported plasma and recombinant products completed Limited interim arrangements for extended half-life clotting factor products Redevelopment of BloodNet completed with go-live on 1 July 2018 |
2018-19 | Implementation of redeveloped BloodNet on 1 July 2018 National implementation of BloodSTAR completed in all states and territories with NSW going live in October 2018 Interim access arrangements for extended half-life clotting factor products continued Revised Criteria for the clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin in Australia (the Criteria) implemented and available in BloodSTAR for users in all states and territories National Blood Sector Research and Development Program continued and round four grant funding commenced NBA organisation restructured and additional Deputy Chief Executive position filled |
2019-20 | Conclusion of the tender process for the supply of standard half-life and extended half‑life recombinant Factor VIII and Factor IX products Finalisation of the first Health Technology Assessment for Immunoglobulin for the treatment of acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to haematological malignancies or post-haemopoietic stem cell transplantation Review of the efficiency of Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Consideration and review of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Plasma Business Case proposal National Blood Sector Research and Development Program continued and round four grant funding awarded The emergence and implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the responsibilities and operations of the NBA The NBA received three prestigious awards, including the Prime Minister’s Silver Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management |
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/national-blood-authority/reporting-year/2019-20-23