Australian music icon Tina Arena is urging Australians to roll up their sleeves and donate blood after revealing a deeply personal reason she has joined a new campaign with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
The beloved singer has partnered with the organisation to help highlight the life-saving impact of blood donations, sharing her own story of how donor blood helped her during a serious illness.
Arena joined fellow Australian artist Ngaiire to record a new version of Unstoppable by Sia, reimagined to celebrate the power of blood donors. The track is part of a national awareness campaign known as the “Unlikely Version”, which brings together performers whose lives have been saved by blood, plasma, stem cell or platelet donations.
For Arena, the message is deeply personal.
In 2023, the singer faced a life-threatening health crisis that required urgent medical treatment and a blood transfusion. What began as severe kidney problems quickly escalated into septicaemia, a dangerous infection that can become fatal if not treated immediately.
Arena spent six days in intensive care as doctors fought to stabilise her condition.
Reflecting on the ordeal, she said the experience opened her eyes to just how vital blood donations can be.
“It’s really nothing for us to be able to donate,” Arena said of the process, explaining that for the person receiving it, it can mean the difference between life and death.
The campaign aims to remind Australians how powerful a simple act of generosity can be.
According to Lifeblood, Australia needs around 1.7 million donations of blood, plasma and platelets each year to support patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, trauma care and other critical medical procedures.
The reworked version of Unstoppable was recorded with a group of musicians and performers who have all personally benefited from life-saving donations. The idea behind the campaign is to show what becomes possible when people receive the help they need to recover and continue living their lives.
For Arena, being able to lend her voice to the project carries a special meaning.
After decades of performing around the world and selling millions of records, the singer said her brush with serious illness has changed the way she sees health and life.
“You’re not invincible,” she has said when reflecting on the experience and the wake-up call it gave her about taking care of herself.
Now approaching 60, Arena says she feels incredibly fortunate to have recovered – and determined to use her platform to raise awareness.
Her message to Australians is simple: donating blood is one of the easiest ways to help others.
And as the new campaign highlights, a single donation could one day save someone’s life – perhaps even the life of someone whose voice has already become part of Australia’s soundtrack.