Donation Equality: A Change for Life

Last year our plasma pathway forged a new path toward donation equality in Australia. This first step enabled Lifeblood to welcome more than 3,500 donors to plasma donation — including almost 2,000 first‑time donors. In total, pathway donors together made around 10,000 donations. That's 1.5% of plasma donations made by 0.5% of all current donors.

As we introduce further changes to our donor questionnaire, which mean even more gay, bisexual and trans people can now give blood or plasma, it’s a time to reflect and celebrate what these new plasma donors have achieved.

The plasma pathway cohort skewed significantly younger than the overall donor panel. In total 76% of pathway donors were aged under 40, a markedly higher proportion than we see in both the donor base overall and in the general population at large. Donors aged 40 and over were significantly underrepresented, a pattern that we hope to shift as we introduce more changes this month.

Pathway donors have demonstrated strong commitment. Since we made the changes, it’s possible for a newly eligible donor to have made 19 plasma donations. One donor achieved exactly that, with 3 donors giving 18 times and another 15 donors making 15-17 donations. The plasma pathway has established a highly engaged group who have helped set the pace and the tone for expanding donation eligibility into new communities.

While pathway donors were most concentrated in CBD and inner‑metro locations, every donor centre has welcomed at least one pathway donor. From Albany in the west to Darwin in the Top End, Hobart in the south, and Southport in the east, pathway donors fronted up all across Australia. These donors have demonstrated this was a national step forward — one with reach well beyond metropolitan centres.

Now, the change to blood donation marks the end of the plasma pathway, and with it our ability to track this cohort as a distinct group. Which in itself is evidence of the progress we've made together. Eligibility no longer requires special pathways, and donors' eligibility will be assessed on their behaviours and actions rather than on innate aspects of their gender and sexual identities. The plasma pathway has done its job, and done it well. It cleared the way for a more inclusive future, and ensures that what comes next is simply business as usual in an incrementally better world.

While donation equality changes have directly enabled those previously ineligible to donate, its impact extends well beyond this group. Many people have told us they have chosen not to donate in the past out of solidarity with partners, friends, or communities who were ineligible. With an estimated 5–10% of the general population directly affected by former eligibility rules, and many more affected indirectly, we’re excited to welcome even more new donors this year.

Find out more about the latest change here.