Funding for sport groups to install defibrillators

Sporting organisations have until November 27 to apply for their share of $500,000 in funding from the NSW Government for new life-saving defibrillators.

The equipment is funded under the NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program which provides up to $3,000 to eligible sporting organisations for the purchase of automated external defibrillators at sports facilities.

Since the program commenced, more than 2,000 defibrillators have been installed at sports facilities across NSW.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said it was important that sports facilities had the critical equipment available to respond to life-threatening incidents such as cardiac arrest.

“I have heard of a number of critical incidents in our community, where lives were saved due to the availability of defibrillators. This equipment is truly vital,” she said.

“The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program ensures that the community can stay active safely in the knowledge that help will be available in such an event.

“Under this grant, sporting organisations will be equipped with life-saving equipment, funding the purchase and installation at eligible facilities.”

Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said that being able to access a defibrillator quickly and easily could be the difference between life and death for someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

“In fact, survival rates nearly double if a defibrillator is used in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest,” he said.

“Currently just one in 10 people who have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital will survive.

“This is a sobering statistic but it’s one we can change for the better by installing more of these lifesaving devices in sports clubs across the State.”

For more information about the grants, including eligibility criteria, see the program guidelines at: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program