Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has unveiled a new fully integrated national campaign, “Unlikely Version”, created with M+C Saatchi.
This activation brings together music and personal stories to highlight the life-saving impact of blood, plasma, stem cell and platelet donations.
At the centre of the campaign is a reimagined version of Sia’s Unstoppable, performed by Australian artists and band members whose lives have been saved by donation. The track is led by Tina Arena and Ngaiire and features musicians whose performances are directly linked to donor generosity.
Top Image: M+C Saatchi
A song shaped by lived experience
Filmed at Melbourne’s Festival Hall, the hero content includes a full-length music video, a behind-the-scenes film, cut-down versions and still imagery capturing the live performance.
The creative concept brings together artists with distinct styles and vocal identities to reinterpret Unstoppable in a way that feels familiar but reshaped through lived experience.
Lifeblood Chief Marketing Officer Jeremy Weiss said the campaign centres on real stories.
“What makes this campaign unique is how it brings together music, storytelling and lived experience to create something truly memorable,” Weiss said.
“By putting the voices of recipients front and centre, we’re showing the real-life impact of donation. The ‘Unlikely Version’ is a reminder that every donation not only saves a life, it enables people to continue their lives with purpose and possibility.”
Weiss also emphasised that the campaign broadens awareness beyond blood donation.
“We also wanted to show that beyond blood donation, Lifeblood provides life-giving biological donations for life-changing outcomes. This includes collecting plasma and platelets, and helping recruit stem cell donors.”
Driving renewed donor participation
With more than 1.7 million blood, plasma, and platelet donations required annually in Australia, the campaign aims to drive renewed consideration and participation among both existing and new donors.
Emma Robbins
Emma Robbins, M+C Saatchi Group ANZ Chief Creative Officer, said the work builds on Lifeblood’s existing brand platform.
“Building on the success of the platform ‘Life is The Reason’, we wanted to show what donation makes possible, beyond survival – the lives lived and the magic those lives create,” Robbins said.
“The reimagined song, ‘Unstoppable’, brings together people whose creative journeys exist because someone donated. The creative collaboration is about embracing the unlikely – there’s something powerful about hearing a song you think you know, reshaped by voices that have lived two different stories.”
National rollout
Rolling out nationally, the campaign spans owned, earned and paid channels, with media strategy delivered by Clemenger BBDO.
Credits:
Client team
Client: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
Chief Marketing Officer: Jeremy Weiss
Head of Brand and Integrated Marketing: Bree Berg
Senior Manager, Integrated Marketing: Steph Garner
Senior Manager, Brand: Romina D’Amico
Senior Campaign Specialist: Becky Brownjohn
Campaign Specialist: Bec Gubbins
Senior Manager, Creative Services: Amanda Brass
Media and PR Manager: Hannah Rayment
Agency team
Creative agency: M+C Saatchi Australia
Chief Creative Officer: Emma Robbins
Creative Director: Daniel Borghesi
Copywriter: Claire Kirby
Art Director: Max Dawson
Art Director: Jake Rowland
Group Account Director: Alex Reynoldson
Senior Producer: Zoe Rixon
Head of Strategy: Mike Hyde
Senior PR & Comms Lead: Claire Mallmann-Verlander
Senior Social Media Manager: Terence Tiglao
Media agency team
Paid media agency: Clemenger BBDO
Chief Media Officer: Stuart Bailey
National Head of Product: Frank Curcio
Strategy Director: Lachlan Kent
Group Digital Director: Luke Egan
Planning Manager: Peter Chantzos
Client Partner: Alan Chung
Digital Manager: Steph Athanasiou
Digital Executive: Eliza Fogarty
Senior Investment Executive: Daniela Moncayo
Investment Coordinator: Daniel Durham
Music and production
Music Supervision: Level Two
Production Company: MOFA
Director: Bill Bleakely
Executive Producer: Claire Perkins
Producer: Stu Giles
Cinematographer: Max Walters
Live Music Producer: Guus Hoevenaars
Post Production: The Editors
Editor: Shannon Michaelas
Editorial Assistant: Shaun Ellis
Colourist and Online Editor: Jesse Richards
Sound Design: Bang Bang Studios
Sound Designer: Sam Hopgood
Sound Producers: Holli Dee & Polly McGregor
Music Supervision: Level Two
Music Supervisors: Emily Crews & Marcus Brooke-smith
Song: Unstoppable written by Sia and performed by Tina Arena & Ngaiire
Publisher: EMI Music & Concord Music
Top Image: M+C Saatchi