# NSW donor human milk program expansion

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nsw-donor-human-milk-program-expansion
> Updated: 2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

NSW Health and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood have expanded a partnership to increase access to pasteurised donor human milk for premature babies across New South Wales. The initiative adds 28 public hospitals to the program, bringing the total number of participating NSW public hospitals to 37.

The expansion moves the service beyond Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to include Special Care Units, which support newborns requiring extra care without intensive monitoring. This change is intended to improve equity for families in regional and rural areas, such as Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Lismore, Gosford, Wollongong, and Wagga Wagga, allowing them to access services closer to home.

Donor milk is provided for medically vulnerable infants, typically those born before 32 weeks, weighing less than 1,500 grams, or those at high risk of medical complications, particularly when a mother’s own milk supply is insufficient or unavailable. Since the program began in 2018, approximately 24,000 litres of milk have been donated nationally, with over 15,000 litres supplied to hospitals in New South Wales.

## Claims

- NSW Health and Australian Red Cross Lifeblood have expanded their partnership to provide pasteurised donor human milk. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The service expansion will be available to 28 additional public hospitals across New South Wales. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Western NSW Local Health District is introducing pasteurised donor human milk in Special Care nurseries in Dubbo, Orange, and Bathurst. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Lifeblood has been supplying pasteurised donor human milk since 2018. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Eligibility for donor milk includes babies born before 32 weeks, those weighing less than 1500 grams, or those at high risk of medical conditions related to prematurity. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-06: NSW Health expands donor milk access for premature babies

NSW Health and Australian Red Cross Lifeblood are expanding donor human milk access to 28 additional public hospitals, including regional nurseries in Dubbo, Orange, and Bathurst.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nsw-health-expands-donor-milk-access-for-premature-babies

### 2026-09-28: NSW expands access to donor human milk for premature babies

An expansion of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood program allows 28 more NSW public hospitals to access donated pasteurised human milk for vulnerable newborns in Special Care Units.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nsw-expands-access-to-donor-human-milk-for-premature-babies

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Cite as: NSW donor human milk program expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nsw-donor-human-milk-program-expansion