Final results are in and the 2025 Defence Blood Drive was a success, with donations up 5.1 per cent on the previous year, saving more than 25,497 lives.
Navy personnel showed their commitment to the community by leading the services for most new donors, most donations per capita and most plasma donations per capita.
Overall, there were 8499 donations from Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence Australian Public Service. Defence Industry also participated, bringing total donations to 10,449.
Navy boasted the highest number of new donors (152), ahead of Army (134) and Air Force (83).
Navy also had most donations per capita (14.31 per cent), ahead of Air Force (11.30 per cent) and Army (10.93 per cent).
And Navy recorded the most plasma donations per capita at 9.25 per cent, ahead of Army (7.35 per cent) and Air Force (6.13 per cent).
'Let's build on this momentum and aim to do even better this year.'
Defence Blood Drive Ambassador Commodore Kate Tindall, who is also Director-General of Navy Health, praised Navy personnel for their generosity and said she was particularly delighted Navy led the field for new donors.
"My challenge to everyone for 2026 is to keep it going," Commodore Tindall said.
"Let's build on this momentum and aim to do even better this year. If you haven't donated before, do consider it. And if you have, spread the word and encourage your colleagues."
The total number of 2025 Defence Blood Drive donations for each service were 3179 for Army, 2282 for Navy, 1902 for Air Force and 1136 for Defence Australian Public Service.
Most Navy donations came from New South Wales, followed by the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.
The 2026 Defence Blood Drive will run from July 1 to September 30.
