For families relying on transfusions, donated blood can mean the difference between life and death. For others, the decision to donate is shaped by culture, experience and how well they understand the system. Lifeblood is urging more Australians to donate blood, warning the need is constant and cannot be met without regular donors. But as Australia's population becomes more diverse, experts say the country's blood supply also needs to reflect that change, with some patients needing blood that is more closely matched to their background.
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TRANSCRIPT:
For Christina Symons, blood donation is deeply personal.
Her eight-year-old daughter Fotini has beta-thalassaemia, a rare inherited blood disorder.
It means she needs regular blood transfusions every three to four weeks.
"If blood transfusions weren't available, I just got goosebumps everywhere because we wouldn't have our little girl. She doesn't create her own blood, red blood cells - so she wouldn't be able to function. Her organs would shut down. Her brain would not be working. Her heart would not be pumping and we wouldn't have the vibrant little girl that we have."
For families like Christina's, donated blood is not an occasional treatment.
It is an ongoing part of life, with every transfusion helping children like Fotini continue to attend school, spend time with friends and simply be kids.
But blood donation is not only about the people who receive it.
For Adelaide donor Indhu Dhanasekar, the importance of giving blood became clear while she was growing up in India.
She says families there are often expected to find their own donors before treatment can go ahead.
After responding to an urgent appeal as a teenager, she saw first-hand the difference a donation could make.
"Oh absolutely because you know when that mother came and spoke to me it was just it was not just giving up my time and donating it was more about getting someone hope and for someone to actually live again so it was more it was very personal for me."
Now living in Adelaide, Indhu donates regularly and encourages others to do the same.
She says cultural beliefs and misconceptions can sometimes discourage people from donating blood.
"Growing up there's always been cultural misconceptions that blood is only meant to stick with your family . You need to reserve your blood for your family who might need it. Or that women are not allowed to give blood because you know because of all your fertilities and having a period every month... I just think all of those have been cultural misconceptions."
As Australia's population becomes more diverse, finding compatible blood can become more challenging.
Lifeblood Senior Research Fellow Dr Rena Hirani has studied how the country's blood profile is changing.
"So what we found in the research was that Australia is becoming more positive overall and that group B and AB groups are becoming more common in our community and these are the blood groups that are found more commonly parts of Asia India Pakistan so that's probably why we're seeing a change in the blood prevalence within Australian communities."
While most people are familiar with blood groups such as A, B, AB and O, there are hundreds of blood characteristics that can influence whether a transfusion is compatible.
As a result, Lifeblood says it needs a donor population that reflects the diversity of modern Australia.
Medical Director of Pathology Services Dr James Daly says recent changes have made more Australians eligible to donate blood.
"Earlier this year in April we moved to a neutral assessment questionnaire so that the questions answered by donors at the same regardless of their gender and that has meant that men who are in gay or bisexual long-term monogamous relationships are able to eligible to donate red cells and platelets."
Lifeblood says it needs around 33,000 blood donations every week to meet demand around the country.
And for families like Christina Symons', the impact of that decision can be life-changing.
"Every needle every appointment that you make is absolutely priceless to us . It is a hope for a little one . It is another month another day to create that laughter those memories and the words just cannot describe. What small selfless act that you do is absolutely huge for us."
