The Lifeblood Challenge is a yearly competition organised by the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood where each team attempts to collect as many blood donations as possible in a set amount of time. From August 1st to October 31st, Western Sydney University (WSU) is working to promote, inform and collect blood donations. Western community members are encouraged to participate and contribute to your community by doing something as simple as donating some of your own.
Blood donation is an easy process, and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood even provides an eligibility quiz that anyone can complete to know if they are ready to donate. The actual blood drawing process takes around 10 minutes, and participants should reserve an hour for the appointment which includes food afterwards.
Blood products play a pivotal role in the comprehensive treatment plans for individuals living with various types of cancer. This is one of the reasons why blood donation is so close to my heart. I lost my father to cancer a few years ago, and if there is even the smallest thing I can do to avoid other people going through what he went through, then I will do it. My mother is a nurse so I was aware from a young age of the importance of blood donations, and how they can change lives without having to do much.
Blood donations also support people with a variety of diseases who depend and rely on the kindness of others to survive. It is about helping community and making a difference for people around you.
The Lifeblood Challenge becomes even more relevant this year after changes to blood donation policies have been made. Australia Red Cross Lifeblood announced in July 2025 a change in their sexual activity eligibility rules to make blood and plasma donation more inclusive and accessible. In fact, current donor rules in Australia prevent many gay and bisexual men and transgender women from giving blood or plasma if they’ve had sex with men in the past three months.
Since July 14th, 2025, Lifeblood has removed most sexual activity wait times for plasma donation, meaning that most people, including gay and bisexual men and people taking PrER (a medication preventing HIV), will be able to donate plasma without a waiting period.
‘I personally did not know that bi or gay men, nor trans women who have stated to have intercourse with another man were unable to give blood donations up until recently. It confuses me that there was such stigma in the first place for the action of donating blood, but at least my fellow queers will be able to donate blood without their sexuality being scrutinised’, said Joyzender Jap, the General Officer of the WSU Queer Collective.
Western is proud to be part of Lifeblood Teams, the social responsibility program of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Life depends on blood and plasma, so Western’s LifeSavers Shield blood drive is here to help save over 400 lives!
To participate in the WSU Campus Lifeblood Team, simply donate blood before October 31st and register through WesternLife, to your respective WSU Campus Lifeblood Team that is available at your local or home campus and make your donation count! You can do so simply by downloading the ‘Donate Blood app’ to your mobile device and update your ‘preferences’ to your team.
