Help save lives with plasma donations
Two-year-old Joey’s rare bleeding disorder shows why Australia urgently needs more plasma donors this October.
What’s Happening?
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is urging thousands of new plasma donors to step forward as demand for the “liquid gold” part of blood reaches record highs.
The call comes during International Plasma Awareness Week (6–10 October) and is backed by the Brisbane family of two-year-old Joey, the only child in Australia with severe Factor V deficiency, a rare bleeding disorder found in just one in a million people.
Why It Matters
Plasma is now the most needed type of blood donation in Australia. Without it, patients like Joey face life-threatening bleeding episodes. Joey’s mum, Alexandria, said, “Plasma is his entire life. Without plasma, even a simple fall could be catastrophic.”
By the Numbers
• 17,500 plasma bags are now required weekly across Australia, the highest on record.
• 900 new donors are needed every day this month to meet demand.
• 45,000 plasma transfusions and medications are used each year in children’s hospitals.
Zoom In
Diagnosed at four months old, Joey receives plasma through a port in his chest. “Joey is truly one in a million,” said Dr Sally Campbell, Paediatric Haematologist at Queensland Children’s Hospital. “Without plasma, he faces the risk of serious internal bleeding, including into his brain. Access to donor plasma has been life-changing.”
Zoom Out
Australia is one of the world’s top three users of plasma medicines per capita, yet fewer than one per cent of Australians currently donate. Lifeblood Executive Director Strategy & Growth Stuart Chesneau said, “We estimate more than 10 million Australians are eligible to donate. Plasma can be given every two weeks—it’s one of the most powerful ways to support others.”
Local Impact
Joey’s story is a Brisbane reminder of how every donation makes a difference. Each bag of plasma helps treat people with bleeding disorders, immune deficiencies, cancer, and pregnancy complications. For Joey, these donations mean he can enjoy being an active toddler, living the childhood every parent wishes for their child.
What to Look for Next
Lifeblood is encouraging Australians to book a plasma donation this month. As awareness grows, the hope is to reach daily targets and ensure ongoing treatment for children like Joey who depend on plasma to survive.
