Why become a member?

The Australasian Tissue and Biotherapeutics Forum (ATBF) held its inaugural Annual Scientific Meeting in Canberra in 2000. Since then, the size and makeup of the ATBF membership has developed to include tissue and cellular therapy organisations.

The ATBF Executive are currently reviewing the constitution and membership structure, to create an organisation which truly represents all the interested parties in our sector, and which extends the opportunities for direct involvement in the ATBF Executive and Sub-committees to a wider group of the membership.

Membership of the ATBF, which is the peak industry body for the tissue sector, provides significant benefits such as:

  • Interaction between member organisations, which enables the exchange of information, provides support to smaller organisations in matters relating to a wide range of issues (particularly those of a regulatory nature), and provides a unified approach for members when engaging with Government agencies.
  • Access to the ATBF Ratified Documents, which provide guidance, and define minimum standards for member organisations. The current ratified documents are:

Donor Questionnaire
Rationale for Donor Questionnaire
Serology Testing document
Plasma Dilution document
ATBF Guidelines Document

  • Access to the ATBF Scholarship program, established to support the ongoing education of its members. $10,000 is allocated annually to enable eligible persons to attend national and international conferences or symposia.
  • Participation with colleagues at various ATBF workshops to work through issues affecting the sector.
  • Industry relevant alerts and updates circulated to members.

The establishment of the Organ & Tissue Authority and the development of the national DonateLife network, provides an opportunity for the ATBF to create and maintain lines of communication, to raise the profile of tissue with the Authority and to shape the future of the tissue and biotherapeutics sector.

The ATBF Education sub-committee has worked hard with Seerpharma and EBAANZ to begin the development of an Education package for personnel engaged in the sector. A business case is being developed for submission to the authority for funding assistance.

The creation of the Eye and Tissue Network by the Authority will hopefully provide guidance and support to the sector. How the Network evolves will be a measure of how successfully the ATBF has managed to engage in the development process.

We encourage you to join the ATBF.  For more information about membership contact info@atbg.org.au  or apply for Membership.