Brewing for a Match ☕❤️

Every coffee can help find a life-saving match ❤️

Brewing for a Match brings cafes and communities together to raise awareness of the urgent need for more stem cell donors.

Every day, Australians with blood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses begin the search for a stranger who could be their perfect stem cell match. Too often, that donor can’t be found. Together, we can change this.

By joining us at a participating café, you’re not only supporting a local business, you’re giving hope to thousands of Australians searching for their match.

Find a participating cafe
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Why we need you

Right now, there aren’t enough registered donors in Australia to give every patient the chance they deserve.

The solution is simple: more people, especially younger Australians, need to join the registry.

Joining is quick and free. You can register at a participating cafe below, or on our website if you can’t make it to an in-person event. If you go on to donate, most donations happen through your blood, similar to giving plasma — and only if you’re ever matched to someone in need.

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Find a participating cafe:

A huge thank you to our partner cafés who are proudly serving coffee with purpose. Visit them, grab a cup, and join the movement.

QLD
NSW
17th Sept – The Common Good – The Prince Charles Hospital 19th Sept – Will & Co – Bondi
17th Sept – The Common Good – Caboolture Hospital 19th Sept – North Beach Kiosk – North Wollongong
17th Sept – Let Minnow Cafe – Brisbane 18th Sept – Carlo’s – Wagga Wagga
18th Sept – Coffee Royal – Brisbane 19th Sept – Wagga Base Cafe – Wagga Wagga
18th Sept – Zouki Cafe – Redcliffe Hospital
NT
VIC
AAFCANS – RAAF Tindal Dr. Brew – Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
Maidens Lane – Katherine East

Ready to Make a Difference?

New to stem cell donation?
Take the first step by joining the registry and you could one day give someone the ultimate gift – the chance to keep living their life.

JOIN THE STEM CELL REGISTRY

Already on the registry?
Make sure we can contact you quickly if you’re needed. A simple update to your details could save a life.

UPDATE YOUR DETAILS

How Donation Works

Donating your stem cells is often much easier than people think. In most cases, it’s done through your blood, much like giving plasma. You’ll spend a few hours at a donation centre, supported by a specialist team every step of the way. Sit back, relax, watch Netflix, or enjoy some snacks while the specialist team looks after you.

For the patient on the other end, your cells aren’t just medicine — they’re a second chance at life.

A few hours of your time could mean decades more for someone else.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Brewing for a Match is a community campaign that brings cafés and locals together to shine a light on the shortage of stem cell donors in Australia. By enjoying a coffee at a participating café, you’re not just supporting a local business — you’re part of a movement helping patients find their missing match.

While you’re supporting a local business, every cup also sparks a conversation. The more people who learn about the need for donors, the greater the chance of someone joining the registry — and potentially saving a life.

We run Australia’s stem cell donor registry — the national database that connects volunteer donors with patients in need of a stem cell transplant. Our role is to make sure every patient has the best possible chance of finding their life-saving match. We recruit new donors, support existing donors, and guide people through the donation process from start to finish.

If you’re aged 18–35, healthy, and living in Australia, you could be eligible to join the registry. This age group is the most likely to be chosen for donation, as younger donors generally lead to better transplant outcomes for patients. Even if you’re not called straight away, your name on the list gives hope to patients searching for their match.

If a patient’s search leads to you, we’ll get in touch. You’ll go through some quick health checks to confirm you’re the best possible match, and then you’ll be guided through the donation process by our expert team.

  • In most cases, stem cells are collected from your blood using a process called peripheral blood stem cell donation. It takes a few hours, feels a lot like donating plasma, and you can sit back, relax, stream a show, or have a snack while it happens.

  • In rare cases, stem cells are collected from bone marrow under a short general anaesthetic. You won’t feel anything during the procedure, and most donors recover within a couple of days.

No matter which method is used, we’ll support you at every step.