Adele has needed more than 100 blood transfusion throughout her life. She’s not alone.
Plasma and platelets, these are the lifesaving gifts Australians need every single day.
Australians showed extraordinary generosity in the days following the Bondi Beach attack, flooding Lifeblood centres nationwide and booking out appointments in numbers not seen since the Black Saturday bushfires.
In the two weeks following the attack, Queensland alone saw an increase of 29 per cent in donations and an incredible 1,957 new registered donors.
While emergencies spark action, the need for blood never slows.
Someone in Australia needs a blood donation every 18 seconds, and plasma is required every 33 seconds.
So why not make 2026 the year you become a regular donor.
Lives depend on repeat donors
Adele knows this better than most. Living with leukaemia, she’s relied on more than 100 blood transfusions throughout her life (and counting).
“I used to be a donor myself when I lived in Gladstone, and I’ve always encouraged others to give. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it changes lives,” Adele said.
“I’d like to thank everyone so much for their donations – you have no idea how enormous the impact is.”
Adele is one of thousands of Australians whose survival depends not on one-off donations, but on a steady, reliable supply of blood, plasma, and platelets.
A precious resource
For more than 25 years, Julia has worked in haematology caring for patients who rely on a wide range of blood products.
She sees firsthand how vital, and at times how fragile, the supply can be.
“I’m always conscious of it being a precious resource,” Julia said.
“Shortages are always concerning, but everyone here works carefully to ensure every transfusion is necessary.
“We know donors give so generously, nothing is ever wasted.”
While crises helps to bring people to Lifeblood centres, the real challenge is keeping them coming back.
“Blood donations aren’t just needed in emergencies, it’s ongoing,” Julia said.
“It’s a 24/7, 365 day a year necessity. Every time someone donates, they’re giving another person more time with their family, friends, and loved ones.
“It’s a really generous thing to do with your time and body, but the Lifeblood team makes it as easy and simple as possible.”
Ready to donate regularly in 2026?
You can donate whole blood every 12 weeks, but you can donate plasma much more frequently, as often as every two weeks.
Visit Lifeblood to book in your donation time (and accrue points for free gifts)!