Why donate blood

You can make a real difference

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What is a blood donation?

Blood that's taken straight from a donor. After it's donated, we usually separate blood into red blood cells, plasma and platelets in our labs.

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How long do red blood cells last?

Red blood cells only last 42 days from when they’re donated. Australia needs over 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand: that's three every minute.

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Your blood can save lives

Did you know one blood donation can save up to three lives? Just think about how many lives you could change by coming back for more.

How your donated red blood cells help

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34%

cancer and blood diseases

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19%

anaemia and other needs

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18%

heart, organ and other non-orthopaedic surgeries

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13%

stomach, kidney and other diseases

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10%

fractures and joint replacements

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4%

help pregnant women, new mothers and young children

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2%

road incidents and other traumas

Your blood donation essentials

How much blood do you give when you donate?

470ml. It's about 8% of the average adult's blood volume. Within 24-48 hours of donating, your body will have fully restored your blood volume.

How long does it take to donate?

10 minutes. But allow for an hour for the whole appointment, which includes meeting with a friendly staff member before your donation and having a complimentary snack and drink after.

How often can I give blood?

Every 12 weeks. If you're keen to donate more often, you can give plasma every two weeks. 

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Can I give blood?

Are you 18-75 years old, healthy and weigh over 50 kg? Take our blood eligibility quiz, then start changing lives.

Take the eligibility quiz
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Prepare and aftercare

About to give blood or looking for recovery tips? Take a look at this handy guide, and find out what to expect.

See our guide
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Frequently asked questions

View answers to common questions, including whether you can donate if you're taking medication or have a tattoo.

Find your answer

Ready to take the next step?