News

A life put on hold, and the stranger who helped restart it

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 04: What stem cell donation day is really like

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. In this conversation, Yoni walks through the…

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There’s a moment Kere Baker still remembers clearly. She's in a hospital room at Royal North Shore Hospital, deep in treatment, immunosuppressed, exhausted, and…

Could a stem cell donor be linked to a crime through DNA?

After a stem cell transplant, donor DNA can appear in blood cells. Does that matter in criminal cases? Learn how it really works.

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 03: Stem cell donation through the eyes of a parent

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. In this episode, Simon shares his family’s…

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 02: Honouring Seia’s legacy through advocacy

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. This month, we sit down with Rochelle as she tells…

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 01: Ollie’s transplant journey

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. In our first episode, you’ll meet Ollie, who was…

Honouring connection: Introducing our new First Nations artwork by Molly Hunt

Balanggarra and Yolngu artist Molly Hunt has created a powerful new artwork for Stem Cell Donors Australia, celebrating connection, kinship and the role of communities in…

Victorian paramedics win paid leave for stem cell and bone marrow donation

We're thrilled to see that one of our partners, the Victorian Ambulance Union, secured a new enterprise agreement with Ambulance Victoria that includes a 5-day paid…

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Every September, we come together for Blood Cancer Awareness Month – a time to shine a light on the thousands of Australians and millions worldwide living with blood…

Shaping our donor work with young First Nations voices

Too many First Nations patients are missing out on life-saving stem cell matches. We’re sharing early insights from young First Nations people about what they need to…

Introducing A/Prof Andrea Henden: A new champion for donors and patients

We’re excited to welcome A/Prof Andrea Henden to our Board, bringing expertise in transplantation, cellular therapies, and improving patient outcomes.

A life put on hold, and the stranger who helped restart it

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 04: What stem cell donation day is really like

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. In this conversation, Yoni walks through the…

Update your details. Win a LoobyLou candle.

There’s a moment Kere Baker still remembers clearly. She's in a hospital room at Royal North Shore Hospital, deep in treatment, immunosuppressed, exhausted, and…

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 03: Stem cell donation through the eyes of a parent

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. In this episode, Simon shares his family’s…

“I’ve been told I saved a life”: Bodhi’s stem cell donation journey

When 21-year-old nursing student Bodhi got the call that he was a match for a stem cell transplant, he didn't hesitate. From his first injection practice to a…

“A second chance at life”: How a stem cell donor gave Sam a future

Sam was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2021 after an innocuous injury revealed underlying blood issues. After months of chemotherapy and a relapse, Sam's…

“I just couldn’t think of a reason not to”: Charlotte on donating bone marrow

"I had to hit pause on my life to give someone a second chance at theirs." Charlotte reflects on her bone marrow donation and why she doesn't regret a thing.

Does it hurt to donate blood stem cells? Side effects, risks, and what to expect

From pre-donation meds to what recovery feels like, here's everything you didn't know you wanted to know about donation risks and side effects, plus why so many…

Three weeks after donating stem cells, Erin ran a half marathon

What do stem cell donation and a half marathon have in common? For Erin, they happened three weeks apart. And both changed her life.

Changing lives, one donation at a time: the history of blood stem cell transplants

This article is based on the work of Tiffany Garbutt, PhD, and her piece "Science milestone: The history of bone marrow transplantation". For a more detailed…

Is stem cell donation painful? Here’s what you need to know

If you’re considering joining the stem cell donor registry, you might wonder: is stem cell donation painful? It’s a natural question, and understanding the process can…

Why haven’t I been called to donate? How matching works

You’ve probably signed up for the registry, and now you’re thinking, “Why haven’t I heard from you yet?” It’s completely normal to wonder what’s going on…

Stem Cell Donors Australia Podcast Ep. 02: Honouring Seia’s legacy through advocacy

Say hi to our new podcast. It's a place for unfiltered conversations about what stem cell donation is really like. This month, we sit down with Rochelle as she tells…

National Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome Awareness Week 2026

Honouring connection: Introducing our new First Nations artwork by Molly Hunt

Balanggarra and Yolngu artist Molly Hunt has created a powerful new artwork for Stem Cell Donors Australia, celebrating connection, kinship and the role of communities in…

How Australia’s outdoor media industry stepped up to help Rowan

After learning about Rowan, an 18-year-old diagnosed with leukaemia who urgently needs a stem cell donor, the Australian outdoor media industry stepped up to help raise…

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

In honour of National Volunteer Week 2025, we take a look at the numerous ways that selfless volunteers help shape our organisation.

Breaking down the barriers to stem cell donation at Mardi Gras Fair Day

Sydney University O-Week: Inspiring the next generation of stem cell donors

We joined Sydney University's O-Week to recruit new donors and introduce our University Ambassador Program launching in 2025.

National Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome Awareness Week 2025

Playing for lives: Tackling Leukaemia scores for donor recruitment

Tackling Leukaemia’s Navy Tackles Leukaemia event at HMAS Cerberus added over 50 donors to the registry, focusing on First Nations and Pasifika communities for…

Looking Back at 2024

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Shaping our donor work with young First Nations voices

Too many First Nations patients are missing out on life-saving stem cell matches. We’re sharing early insights from young First Nations people about what they need to…

Changing lives, one donation at a time: the history of blood stem cell transplants

This article is based on the work of Tiffany Garbutt, PhD, and her piece "Science milestone: The history of bone marrow transplantation". For a more detailed…

Is blood stem cell donation safe?

As a member of the blood stem cell donor registry, you might have heard concerns about potential long-term side effects of donating stem cells. However, recent…

From high risk to high reward

How outcomes are improving for blood stem cell recipients Blood stem cell transplants have revolutionised the treatment of blood cancers and other diseases…

The evolving tech behind stem cell transplants

Advances in technology and international cooperation have improved the chance of finding stem cell donors for blood cancer patients, and ultimately saved lives. As we…