How’s Lifeblood funded?
We’re funded by Australian governments to provide blood, blood products and services for the Australian community.
Our Milk program is a bit of a different story. We use funding from governments and cost-recovery from hospitals. So, when a hospital orders donated breast milk from Lifeblood, they’re charged a fee to partially cover the costs of collecting, processing, testing and distributing the milk.
The families of premature babies who receive this donated milk in hospital don’t pay a cent.
Our Milk Research program also receives grants from philanthropic organisations and donations from generous people through workplace giving platforms. These donations support life-changing research for our tiniest patients.
Acknowledging the WHO Code
Lifeblood follows the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (set by the World Health Organization) and its recommendations.
In particular, our operations and research teams don’t accept any funding from companies that market infant formula, bottles or teats.
If you have any questions about the funding that Lifeblood receives, please get in touch on 1300 459 040 or email milkbank@redcrossblood.org.au
