Australia has one of the safest blood supply systems in the world. There are a number of reasons for this. For a start, all of Australia's blood donors are voluntary and unpaid. Donors give blood because they are helping fellow Australians in a very practical way.

Another factor that contributes to Australia having one of the safest blood supply systems in the world are the regulations around which eligibility to give blood is determined. There are a range of reasons why anyone could be 'temporarily deferred' or 'permanently deferred' from giving blood, including age, recent short-term illness, past medical history, pregnancy status and lifestyle issues.

Every time you give blood, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is required to ensure you complete a detailed and confidential questionnaire, to make sure that the blood you are kindly and generously giving fulfills the eligibility criteria. This ensures it is as safe as possible for you, the donor, as well as for the recipients.

It has been a few years since I last donated blood. But on Saturday, 7 March 2009, I was kindly invited by the Australian Forum for Minorities in Bangladesh. Led by Labor's Clr Prabir Maitra, his organisation is a non-profit working for the rights of minorities (ethni and religious) in Bangladesh by upholding the values of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As part of their many activities, their Saturday blood donation program at Parramatta's Australian Red Cross Blood Centre was also to support the Victorian bushfire victims.

If you want to donate blood, please contact the Parramatta Blood Centre on 02 9840 5555. Appointment is required.

For more details, please click here for the Parramatta Blood Centre.