Our Impact
Growing the registry to meet the needs of Australian patients
Every year, more Australians are diagnosed with blood cancers and rare disorders rely on stem cell transplant. For those who could not find a match in their family — about 70% of patients — they require an unrelated donor from Stem Cell Donors Australia.
In 2024, 1,183 Australian patients needed an unrelated stem cell donor — the highest number we’ve ever seen. That’s up from 1,100 in 2023, and a 35% increase since 2020.
A younger, stronger, and more diverse donor registry
We’re working to recruit more young people, particularly those aged 18–35, because younger donors are more likely to be selected for patients and lead to better transplant outcomes.
We’ve expanded our effective donor pool (those aged 18–35) to 74,919 people. That’s a 25% increase in just one year, and a 68% increase since 2020.
This growth means more patients have a chance of finding their life-saving match right here in Australia. More young donors on the registry improves match rates, reduces wait times, and increases the chances of successful transplants.
More Australians are saying “Yes” to donation, but the vast majority of donors are from overseas
Donating stem cells is an extraordinary act of generosity, and in 2024, more Australians than ever took that step.
Last year, 149 Australians went on to donate their stem cells to a patient in need — the highest number of donations from Australian donors in the past five years. That’s up from 111 last year and nearly 50% more than in 2022. These donors saved lives here at home and around the world.
But even with this progress, 79% of donations for Australian patients still came from overseas. While international donors are a vital part of the global network, every new local donor increases our independence and resilience especially in times of crisis, like pandemics, natural disasters or global conflict, when international logistics can falter.
More patients are reaching a transplant
In 2024, more Australians than ever went on to have a transplant.
Thanks to donors and transplant teams, more patients are finding matches and moving forward with treatment. This year, 458 Australian patients received a transplant — the most since records began. That’s 40 more people than last year whose search ended in hope, thanks to donors and healthcare teams around the country and overseas.
The road ahead
The registry is growing, and the impact for patients is real. But with nearly 1,200 Australians in need each year — and the vast majority still relying on international donors, we must keep building a stronger, younger, and more diverse local registry.
If you’re already part of the registry: thank you.
If you’re not: consider joining or spreading the word. The more young Australians who join, the more lives we can save.
