There’s no limit to the total amount you can donate, but each donation needs to be at least 3L. This minimum is necessary due to pathology screening requirements and to ensure efficient single-batch processing. Larger donation sizes are helpful, as they make collection and processing more cost-effective.

Donors must meet strict guidelines to qualify. If your first application is unsuccessful, you’re welcome to apply again in the future should your circumstances change. In the meantime, you can use Nourishy’s freeze-drying service to preserve your current milk stash.

Donated milk is carefully tested for pathogens and pasteurised using the Holder Method. After pasteurisation, it is either portioned into 100ml amounts and frozen to meet hospital standards or freeze-dried and packed into 100ml sachets. The milk undergoes further pathology testing before being distributed to hospitals or mothers in need across Australia.

This information is strictly confidential and managed exclusively by Mothers Milk Bank Charity. The charity ensures that donated milk reaches those who need it most, such as vulnerable babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units or Special Care Nurseries across the country. It also supports new mothers whose milk supply has not yet come in, those undergoing cancer treatment or who have had a double mastectomy, and babies in need in regions affected by war or famine, among other examples.

The first step is a online lifestyle questionnaire which can be accessed here. On completion of this Mothers Milk Bank will then request that you complete blood tests. Since you are donating milk you are legible to have your blood tests bulk billed. Bloods need to be screened for:

HIV
Hep B & Hep C
Syphilis
HTLV 1 & 2
CMV

If you’re already an approved donor with Mothers Milk Bank, you’re all set! Just register for Nourishy Give using the email address you used to register as a donor, so we can verify your donor status. However, if you’re a donor with another organisation, such as LifeBlood, you’ll need to complete the application process and be approved as a donor specifically for Mothers Milk Bank Charity.

Yes absolutely; you can donate as often or as seldom as you like. New blood tests will be required for each new breast-feeding period (each new pregnancy) or if a period of 12 months lapses between donations.

Upon arrival, your milk will be divided approximately 85/15. The 85% designated for donation will be pasteurised according to Milk Banking guidelines and safety standards. The remaining 15%, which will be freeze-dried and returned to you, will not be pasteurised, as pasteurisation isn’t necessary for milk being returned to its original owner.

If you would prefer the portion being returned to you to also be pasteurised, please let us know so we can discuss this option with you.

The method of collection is dependant on your post code. Either Mothers Milk Bank Charity will arrange a volunteer to collect from your address otherwise a shipping kit will be sent to your address. The shipping kits require you to drop off your milk at an AusPost on a Monday morning where it will travel through and express network back to the facility.

You can also drop off at one of the Nourishy Drop-Off points.

This is not possible. The 15% portion of your milk that is returned to you is a token of appreciation from Nourishy for contributing to the supply of Pasteurised Donor Human Milk (PDHM). It holds no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for cash, credit, or other forms of compensation.

Absolutely! You can choose how much of your milk to donate, with a minimum donation of 85%. The remaining amount will be freeze-dried for your personal use.

Nourishy Give Milk will package your milk into Multi-Feed packaging and return it to you via AusPost or FedEx. If you have specific grouping preferences (e.g., AM and PM milk), please pre-group your milk accordingly.