- Australia has one of the safest blood supply systems in the world.
- You can donate whole blood every 12 weeks.
- O negative blood is universal and can be given to anyone.
- Plasma and platelet donations can be made every 2 weeks.
- Every whole blood donation can save 3 lives.
- 1 in 3 people will need blood. Only 1 in 30 gives blood.
- Australia needs over 27,000 blood donations every week.
- 470mL of blood is collected when you give whole blood.
- Within 24-48 hours of giving blood, your blood volume is completely restored.
- Giving blood only takes about an hour.
- Plasma donations can be used to make 17 different products.
- Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days.
- 34% of donated blood goes towards helping cancer patients.
- You can start giving blood at 16.
- The blood service has been collecting blood for over 80 years.
- Many donor centres have a courtesy bus.
- You can donate double platelets – helping twice as many people.
- Platelets have a shelf life of only 5 days.
Strategic Plan
Our new Strategic Plan: Improving Lives Through the Power of Humanity identifies the complex environment within which the Australian Red Cross Blood Service operates and discusses the forces impacting on us as an organisation and more widely as a blood service. The plan sets out new strategic objectives and change programs which will be used to focus business planning activities in order to meet these challenges.
Successful implementation of the plan will support our mission: to perform a critical role in healthcare by providing a safe, secure and cost effective supply of quality blood products, essential services and leading edge research to meet the needs of patients.
Strategic Plan
Blood Service_strategic plan_web.pdf (1840k)