Become a Stem Cell Donor

People need a stem cell transplant when their bone marrow can’t make healthy blood cells on its own.

This can happen because of blood cancers like leukaemia or lymphoma, or other serious blood disorders.

A stem cell transplant gives their body a chance to rebuild healthy blood cells again.

First, you sign up with Stem Cell Donors Australia and a cheek swab kit sent to your door.

If you’re ever matched with someone who needs a stem cell transplant, you’ll be contacted and guided through the process step by step.

Most donations involve collecting stem cells from your bloodstream. You’re looked after the whole time, and most people are back to normal very quickly.

Short answer, for most people, no.

For the majority of people the donation itself is similar to a long plasma donation. You’re awake, comfortable, and can read, scroll, or even nap while it’s happening.

Some people feel tired or a bit achy for a short time, but serious pain isn’t the norm.

Yes. Donating stem cells is considered very safe.

It’s a well established medical process, with thousands of people donating stem cells around the world each year.

Donors are carefully checked before anything happens, and you’re supported throughout the entire process.

Most people recover quickly and get back to normal life straight away. You’d be doing something pretty legendary along the way.

For most people, the donation itself takes four or five hours on the day.

There’s also some preparation beforehand, which your medical team will guide you through, so nothing comes out of the blue.

Most donors are back to normal life the next day.

You can join if you’re aged 18 to 35, generally healthy, and hold a green or blue Medicare card.

That’s it. No special background needed.

If you’re eligible and ever come up as a match, you may be able to save the life of someone with blood cancer.

Younger stem cell donors give patients the best chance of a successful transplant. It’s not personal. It’s biology.

That’s why registries around the world focus on recruiting people in this age group.

If you’re aged 18 to 35, you’re in the sweet spot where you can make the biggest difference.

You need to be an Aussie citizen or a permanent resident to sign up. That’s because you must hold a green or blue Medicare card.

If you’re living in Australia on a temporary visa, you can still join a stem cell donor registry in your home country.

Stem cell registries around the world work together, so donors can help patients across borders.

You can sign up online. It takes a few minutes.

If you’re eligible, a cheek swab kit is sent to your door. You swab your cheeks, send it back, and you’re on the registry.

You can also join the stem cell registry when donating blood or plasma at Lifeblood.

Either way, signing up is quick and straightforward.

Once you’ve signed up, your details are added to the Australian Stem Cell Donor Registry.

Most people never get a call, and that’s normal.

If you’re a match for someone who needs a stem cell transplant, you’ll be contacted and looked after at every step of the process.

Matching is based on tissue type, not blood type.

Tissue type is inherited, which means people are more likely to match with someone who shares a similar ethnic background, or mix of backgrounds.

That’s why having a large and diverse stem cell donor registry really matters.

No. Blood type doesn’t matter when matching stem cell donors.

Matching is based on tissue type, which comes from your genes.

That’s why someone with a similar ethnic background, or mix of backgrounds, is more likely to be a match.

Because tissue type is inherited.

People are more likely to match with someone who shares a similar ethnic background, or mix of backgrounds.

That’s why increasing diversity on the stem cell donor registry really matters.

Australia’s stem cell donor registry doesn’t fully reflect the diversity of the people who live here.

Because matching is based on genetics, many people can’t find a suitable match locally.

That’s why more than 80 percent of Australians who need a stem cell transplant rely on donors from overseas.

For most people, it’s pretty uneventful.

The donation usually feels similar to a long plasma donation. You’re awake, comfortable, and can read, scroll, or nap while it’s happening.

It’s a big deal for the person receiving the cells. For most donors, it’s a few hours out of their day. You’d be doing something pretty legendary along the way.

Yes, but most stem cell donations happen through the bloodstream.

A much smaller number involve collecting stem cells from bone marrow, which is done under anaesthetic.

Either way, you’re supported the whole time, and the medical team will guide you through exactly what to expect.

The risks of donating stem cells are incredibly low.

Whether it’s through the blood or direct from the bone marrow, it’s a well established medical process, and donors are looked after every step of the way.

Most side effects are short term and manageable, like feeling tired or achy for a few days. Serious complications are rare, and you’re supported the whole way through.

No. There’s no evidence that donating stem cells causes long term health problems for donors, and hundreds of thousands of people have donated stem cells worldwide.

Your body naturally replaces the stem cells you donate.

Donors are followed up after donation, and most people go on with life exactly as before, just knowing they helped save someone’s life.

The G-CSF jabs tell your body to produce extra stem cells before donation.

Some people feel flu like symptoms for a few days, have some bone or muscle aches, headaches, or make you feel tired on the lead up to donation day. This is totally normal and shows the G-CSF is working.

The side effects are temporary and usually settle once the injections stop. You’re supported the whole time. Because, yes, you’re a legend.

For most people, side effects last a few days while you’re having the jabs.

They usually settle quickly once the injections stop.

Most donors are back to feeling like themselves the next day.

Most people will need a day off for the donation itself.

Some people also take a day or two around it, just to rest.

You’ll know what’s involved well in advance, so you can plan around work or uni.

No. You won’t be out of pocket.

If you’re asked to donate your stem cells, all costs related to the donation are covered, including travel, accommodation, and food.

Donating won’t cost you anything. You Legend.

No. Donating stem cells isn’t paid.

It’s a voluntary donation, not a job.

You’re giving someone a chance at life when they’ve usually run out of options. That’s a pretty incredible thing to do.

For most people, it’s very unlikely to donate even once.

There are over 43 million people on stem cell donor registries worldwide, and most will never get a call.

If you are asked, it’s because you’re a close genetic match for someone who needs a stem cell transplant.

There have been a handful of cases where a donor is asked to donate again for the same person, but that’s incredibly rare.

Usually, no. Donors and recipients are anonymous at first.

In Australia, donors and recipients can choose to connect after two years. This can vary depending on the country. It only happens if everyone involved is comfortable with it.

Either way, you’ll know that you helped someone when they needed it most. That part doesn’t depend on meeting.

Yes, absolutely. You can withdraw from the stem cell donor registry at any time.

That said, joining the registry is a serious commitment. By the time someone is searching for a match, they’ve often been through months of treatment and are waiting on one person.

That’s why it’s important to understand what’s involved before you sign up. Saying yes upfront helps avoid giving someone false hope later on.

If something genuinely changes, you can let Stem Cell Donors Australia know and they’ll remove you from the registry.

You’re supported at every step of the way and into the future.

If you’re a match, you’ll have a dedicated medical team guiding you through each step, answering questions, and checking in on you before and after donation.

You’re not doing this alone. There’s a lot of care wrapped around donors, because what you’re doing really matters. You Legend!

The TLR Foundation exists to get more people signed up as stem cell donors.

We do this by educating people about stem cell donation, sharing real stories, and helping break down the myths that stop people from signing up.

We don’t run the registry. We help people understand it and join it. We help find legends.

You’re signing up with Stem Cell Donors Australia.

TLR is an official charity partner. Our role is to educate, encourage, and help more people join the registry.

When you sign up through TLR, it means our small, volunteer run charity is doing its job. And that matters to us.