Lifeblood Archives - Fortitude Valley News

Rock Legends Metallica Team Up With Lifeblood to Boost Blood Donations

Brisbane locals have a unique opportunity to combine their civic duty with rock memorabilia next month, as legendary band Metallica partners with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood for a special blood donation drive.

The collaboration coincides with Metallica’s upcoming Brisbane performance on 12 November at Suncorp Stadium as part of their M72 World Tour. Brisbane blood donors who give at the Edward Street donor centre between 5-11 November will receive a limited-edition Metallica t-shirt designed by the band’s iconic artist SQUINDO.

Photo Credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

The exclusive Brisbane t-shirt features the band’s lyric “A Sea of Hearts Beat As One” within a blood drop design, along with Australian elements specifically for local fans. To receive the merchandise, donors must be enrolled in Lifeblood’s loyalty program, Lifeblood Gifts, either before donating or sign up when they arrive.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood’s Executive Director of Donor Experience, Cath Stone, highlighted the timing of the partnership amid increased demand for blood products. The organisation requires more than 1.7 million donations annually to meet hospital needs, with 100,000 new donors needed each year due to growing population demands.

The Brisbane initiative forms part of a broader Australian tour collaboration between Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, and Lifeblood. Similar drives are occurring in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, timed around each tour stop.

This partnership builds on Metallica’s global philanthropic efforts, including their work with the American Red Cross during their recent US tour, which generated more than 2,000 blood and platelet donations. Since establishing All Within My Hands in 2017, the foundation has raised over $20 million for community initiatives.

Each blood donation can save up to three lives, supporting cancer patients, new mothers, trauma victims and surgical patients. The Brisbane Donor Centre is located at 288 Edward Street in the CBD.

For Brisbane residents with tattoos, recent policy changes mean plasma donations are accepted immediately after tattoos from licensed Australian parlours, while blood and platelet donations require just a one-week wait.

Donations can be booked through lifeblood.com.au/metallica or by calling 13 14 95.

Published 29-September-2025

Urgent Call for O-Type Blood Donors at Brisbane City Donor Centre as National Supplies Hit Crisis Point

The Brisbane City Donor Centre is urgently appealing for 250 O-type blood donors this week, as Australia faces its most severe shortage of O positive and O negative blood in nearly two years.

Read: Urgent Blood Donation Appeal: Here’s Where to Donate in Brisbane CBD

The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has issued a nationwide plea for an extra 9,500 donations over the next seven days to replenish critical blood supplies, which have dropped to their lowest levels since October 2023.

“Right now, we’re seeing the highest rates of people rescheduling or cancelling their appointments since June last year, and our O-type blood supplies are at their lowest level since October 2023,” Lifeblood Executive Director, Stuart Chesneau said.

“Every day, we issue close to 10,000 blood transfusions and medications to hospitals around the country to meet patient demand and we can’t do it without people donating,” Mr Chesneau said.

O-type blood is in especially high demand because it’s frequently used in emergency situations. O negative is the universal blood type, suitable for any patient regardless of their own blood type, and is stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters for trauma cases where there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood group.

“O negative is considered a ‘universal blood type’ and is often stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters so it can be used to treat patients when their blood type is unknown, such as in times of trauma when large quantities of blood is needed in a short amount of time,” Mr Chesneau explained.

Although fewer than 7 percent of Australians have O negative blood, it accounts for 16 percent of hospital orders due to its versatility. He said that donations of O positive were equally as important.

“What many people don’t know is that O positive is as safe as O negative for the majority of emergency transfusions. Some 40 per cent of people in Australia have O positive blood, meaning they too can help save lives in emergency situations,” he added.

“We’re asking people of all blood types who are feeling healthy and well, especially those with O-type blood, to make an appointment.

“If you’ve never donated before and don’t know your blood type, coming in to donate is a great way to find out, and you get the chance to save a life.”

A whole blood donation takes less than 10 minutes, with the full appointment lasting around an hour.

“An hour of your time might give someone the rest of their life. Plus, you’ll give Lifeblood’s blood supplies a much-needed boost as we head into the winter months,” Mr Chesneau said.

Appointments can be made by calling 13 14 95, visiting lifeblood.com.au, or downloading the DonateBlood App.

Donor Centre Details

Brisbane City Donor Centre
288 Edward Street, Brisbane
Open Hours:

Monday to Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Read: QUT Researchers Secure $3.2M for Health Trials in Brisbane CBD

Parking is available at Queens Plaza (250 Edward Street), with entry at the corner of Edward and Adelaide Streets.

Published 3-June-2025

Urgent Blood Donation Appeal: Here’s Where to Donate in Brisbane CBD

Lifeblood has issued an urgent plea for blood donors this week after experiencing a surge in cancellations, putting Australia’s blood supply under significant strain.

Read: Brisbane City Outreach Van Drives Support for Homeless Women

More than 6,500 scheduled donations were canceled during the first week of the year, marking the highest New Year week cancellations in three years. An additional 14,000 donors either rescheduled or missed their appointments, leaving blood banks critically low.

To address this shortage, Lifeblood is calling for 12,000 additional donors to book appointments immediately to replenish dwindling stocks. Cath Stone, Lifeblood’s Executive Director of Donor Experience, emphasized the pressing need for blood.

Photo credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood/Facebook

“Every day, we are issuing more than 9,500 blood and plasma transfusions and medications to Australian hospitals,” she said. “There are still cancer patients, road trauma victims, new mums and newborn babies, and people with immune deficiencies that are relying on the generosity of blood donors.”

Despite a record-breaking 1.66 million donations in 2024, an increase of nearly 30,000 from 2023, demand for blood and plasma continues to soar. Lifeblood is aiming to recruit 100,000 new donors in 2025 to keep up with the rising demand caused by an aging population.

In the CBD, residents have two convenient options for donating blood:

Brisbane Donor Centre at Edward Street, open for immediate appointments.
Brisbane Parliament House Mobile Donor Centre at George Street, also ready to welcome donors.

Photo credit: Jamie Gillespie/Google Maps

Both centres are equipped to handle the influx of donors needed to meet the urgent demand.

Ms Stone encouraged donors to find their motivation to give. “For every reason to become a donor, there’s an even bigger reason. Life. So please book your donation today.”

Australians can now check real-time blood supply levels online through the Lifeblood app, making it easier than ever to know when donations are critically needed.

Read: Queensland Country Bank Secures Prime Location in Brisbane CBD’s ‘Golden Triangle’

Can I Donate Blood?

Here are some common questions and helpful information about blood donation. Check this list to see if you’re eligible to donate:

Colds: Wait one week after full recovery and no symptoms, even mild ones.
Surgery: Depends on type and timing. Wait if surgery is planned within 84 days or during recovery.
Travel: Eligibility depends on destination. Check specific guidelines for recent travel.
Tattoos/Piercings: Plasma donation is fine immediately; blood donation may require a wait.
Medications: Most don’t prevent donation, but the condition treated might. Some medications require a waiting period.
Dental Treatment: Plasma donation is okay after simple treatments (24 hours), but more complex procedures may require waiting.
Weight: Minimum weight is 50 kg for health and safety.
Antibiotics: Wait one week after completing antibiotics and ensuring the infection has resolved.

For more detailed answers and additional information, visit the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood website. You may also call 13 14 95 to book a life-saving appointment.

Published 9-January-2025