To:

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

The Australian Government – Department of Health and Aged Care

Federal Members of Parliament and Relevant Ministers

 

We, the undersigned residents of Emerald, Queensland, and the surrounding Central Highlands region, respectfully call on Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the Australian Federal Government to support and establish a permanent Blood and Plasma Donation Centre in Emerald, Queensland.

The Central Highlands Regional Council area services a population of over 28,000 residents, based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Emerald acts as the primary commercial, medical, and service hub for the region. This figure does not fully capture the true population using local services, as the area also supports a large and continuous FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) and DIDO (Drive-In Drive-Out) workforce associated with mining, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure industries.

At any given time, thousands of FIFO and DIDO workers live, work, and access services within the Central Highlands. Many of these workers are long-term or repeat visitors to the region and represent a significant, largely untapped donor base.

 

CURRENT ACCESS BARRIERS 

At present, community members who wish to donate blood or plasma must travel significant distances to Rockhampton or Mackay. These journeys require several hours of travel each way and create significant barriers for otherwise willing donors. For many people, including shift workers, parents, carers, older residents, and those in rural and remote locations, such travel is not feasible on a regular basis. The burden of travel time, fuel costs, work commitments, family responsibilities, and health limitations make frequent long-distance travel impractical or impossible.

As a result, many potential donations are lost — not due to lack of willingness, but due to lack of access.

 

WHY BLOOD & PLASMA DONATION MATTERS

Blood and plasma donations are critical components of Australia’s healthcare system. Every donation has the potential to save lives, supporting:

 • Emergency and trauma situations

 • Support cancer and chronic disease treatments

 • Assist during childbirth complications and major surgeries

 • Produce life-saving plasma-derived medicines for immune and rare conditions

 

Plasma, in particular, is in increasing demand nationwide. Plasma-derived products cannot be synthetically produced and rely entirely on voluntary donations. The demand for plasma continues to rise each year and expanding regional donation capacity is critical to ensuring Australia’s ongoing supply and national self-sufficiency. 

 

WHY EMERALD IS A STRATEGIC LOCATION

Emerald is the service centre for the Central Highlands, supporting a broad catchment area that includes rural towns, farming communities, and remote populations. Establishing a Blood and Plasma Donation Centre in Emerald would:

 • Significantly increase donor participation and retention

 • Enable more frequent and reliable donations

 • Reduce pressure on coastal and metropolitan centres

 • Strengthen health resilience  and emergency preparedness in regional Queensland hospitals

 • Align with federal commitments to improve regional healthcare access

•      Improve health outcomes across regional Queensland

Our community has demonstrated strong support for health initiatives and has a proven willingness to donate when services are made accessible.

 

A CALL FOR FEDERAL & LIFEBLOOD SUPPORT

We respectfully request that Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, in partnership with the Australian Federal Government, undertake a feasibility assessment and prioritise the establishment of a Blood and Plasma Donation Centre in Emerald.

 

This request aligns with national health priorities, regional equity goals, and the shared objective of ensuring a safe, sustainable blood and plasma supply for all Australians.

 

OUR REQUEST

We call on decision-makers to:

 • Recognise the unmet donation potential within the Central Highlands

 • Invest in accessible regional donation infrastructure

 • Support Emerald as a permanent donation location serving surrounding communities

 

By supporting this initiative, Lifeblood and the Federal Government will empower regional Australians to contribute directly to saving lives — without the burden of extensive travel.

 

Thank you for your consideration and commitment to the health and wellbeing of regional communities.

 

Sincerely,

The undersigned residents of Emerald and the Central Highlands region