You’re now viewing the Blood Donor website. Visit:

Visit Redcross.org.au

  • Careers
  • Corporate
  • Health professionals
  • Media Centre
  • Mobile site
  • Patients
  • Research
Home
  • Home
  • Why donate blood
    • Who your blood helps
      • Inspiring Stories
      • Tell us your story
    • How donated blood is used
    • FAQs - why donate
  • Who can give
    • Am I eligible to donate blood?
    • When can I donate next?
    • Donating after travelling
    • Donating as a group
      • School & uni group donations
      • Register your group
      • Join/change your Club Red group
      • Group tally results
      • Compare your group tally
      • Blood challenge results
      • Club Red enquiry
      • Club Red opt out
      • Need help?
    • How else can I help?
    • FAQs - who can give
  • I'm ready to donate
    • What happens on the day
    • Make an appointment
    • Find a donor centre
    • FAQs - ready to donate
  • About blood
    • Blood types
    • Blood components
    • Ensuring blood safety
    • Donation types
      • Three types of blood donation
      • Apheresis - what is it?
      • Plasma products
      • Anti-D - saving babies
      • Bone Marrow donation
      • Organ donation
    • FAQs - about blood
  • News
    • Latest news
    • Media resources
      • About blood
      • Video
      • Images
    • Meet the Blood Service
    • Info for students
    • Media enquiries
    • Donor newsletter

Media Centre

  • Latest news
  • Media resources
    • About blood
    • Video
    • Images
  • Meet the Blood Service
  • Info for students
  • Media enquiries
  • Donor newsletter

Ready to donate?

Make an appointment

Or

Call us now

Call 13 95 96

Find your nearest centre

  • 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. 
  • You can donate double platelets – helping twice as many people.
  • Platelets have a shelf life of only 5 days.

Contact

National

Director, Public Affairs & Communications
Fiona Gillies
T: 03 9863 1780

National Media Manager
Kathy Bowlen
T: 03 9863 2861
M: 0447 448 338

National Media Officer
Shaun Inguanzo
T: 03 9863 2858
M: 0467 796 204

NSW / ACT

Public Affairs Officer
Jemma Falkenmire
T: 02 9234 2119
M: 0418 454 983

QLD

Public Affairs Officer
Belinda Haynes
T: 07 3838 9304
M: 0457 535 468

VIC / TAS

Public Affairs Officer
Erin Lagoudakis
T: 03 9694 3557
M: 0439 396 397

WA / NT

Public Affairs Officer
Jessica Willet
T: 08 9219 1614
M: 0467 710 464

SA

Public Affairs Officer
Emma Schreiber
T: 08 8412 6602
M: 0406 383 517

-A +A
Home › Media Centre › Media Resources › About Blood

About Blood

Blood Donation

Printer-friendly version

Karen shows us how easy it is to donate blood.

  • Request Broadcast Resolution Video

Other Videos

plasma machine
Plasma machine
Watch Video
Watch Video
Blood typing
Natalie explains blood typing
Watch Video
Watch Video
The donation interview
The donation interview
Watch Video
Watch Video
Doug donates plasma
Doug donates plasma
Watch Video
Watch Video
Kyah explains how we do the bacterial testing of platelets.
Bacterial testing of platelets
Watch Video
Watch Video
  • News
    • Latest news
    • Media resources
    • Meet the Blood Service
    • Info for students
    • Media enquiries
    • Donor newsletter
  • About Blood
    • Blood types
    • Blood components
    • Ensuring blood safety
    • Different donation types
    • FAQs - about blood
  • I'm ready to donate
    • What happens on the day
    • Make an appointment
    • Find a donor centre
    • FAQs - ready to donate
  • Who can give
    • Am I eligible to donate blood?
    • When can I donate next?
    • Donating after travelling
    • Donating as a group
    • How else can I help?
    • FAQs - who can give
  • Why donate blood
    • Who your blood helps
    • How donated blood is used
    • FAQs - why donate
Join us on facebook Twitter and YouTube
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Links
  • Sitemap

© 2012 Australian Red Cross Blood Service