The lifting of blood donation restrictions will see over 600,000+ Australians now eligible to give blood. From July, gay, bisexual and transgender Australians will be eligible to give blood.
Previously, rules from the 1980s effectively prohibited all sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating blood or plasma, regardless of their relationship status.
But the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved its removal based on research, modelling and risk assessments conducted by Lifeblood that showed there would be no change to the current safety profile of Australia’s blood supply, due to an additional safety measure, known as pathogen deactivation, in processing plasma.
People taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will become eligible to donate plasma, but will still be ineligible to donate blood.
At a time of chronic shortages, this reform is a major victory for all Australians who need blood and also the LGBTIQ+ community who have long campaigned against the discriminatory nature of the previous rules.
Did you know, Australia needs over 1.7 million blood and blood product donations each year to meet demand, which is approximately 33,000 donations per week? While Australia is self-sufficient in fresh blood products, there’s a consistent need for more donors.
LGBTIQ+ advocates, medical experts and politicians have welcomed the change, describing it as a long-overdue step towards equality and evidence-based policy. Senator David Pocock and Let Us Give spokesperson Rodney Croome have both highlighted the importance of ending discrimination and ensuring that everyone who wants to help their community can do so safely.
Australia continues to have one of the safest blood supplies in the world and these reforms are based on the latest medical evidence and international best practice, ensuring that safety remains the top priority.
This historic reform is not just a win for equality—it’s an opportunity for thousands to save lives and be recognised as vital contributors to the nation's health.
If you are interested in donating blood or plasma, you can register at lifeblood.com.au
