Life-saving defibrillators will be installed at sporting facilities across the Central Coast under a $500,000 NSW Government initiative.
The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides grants up to $3,000 to eligible sporting organisations towards the purchase of automated external defibrillators.
The program is available to sport and recreation clubs, associations and organisations as well as councils and service clubs.
“With more and more people of all ages participating in sport and active recreation across the Wyong electorate it’s vital our local sporting organisations are equipped to respond to life-threating emergencies,” Member for Wyong David Harris said.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said access to defibrillators can mean the difference between life and death in a medical emergency and it was important that our local clubs have access to the technology.
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the Government wanted to ensure that people participating in sport in the most disadvantaged areas had access to the life-saving equipment.
“The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program supports sports to install this equipment at local sports facilities, enabling them to respond in the worst-case scenario,” he said.
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said sport was a “great leveller’ and the Government wanted to ensure that people participating in sport in all areas of NSW have access to this life-saving equipment.
“The first few minutes following a cardiac arrest are critical and access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death,” he said.
“This program ensures clubs are equipped to respond to these life-threatening emergencies.”
Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said while sudden cardiac death was rare, it can strike anyone at any time, and when it does every minute counts.
“If you have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital you only have a one-in-10 chance of survival,” he said.
“Defibrillators save lives; we need more across NSW and in as many sporting clubs as possible.
“We also need to ensure that players across all sporting codes know how to use a defibrillator to give their teammates the best chance of survival.”
Applications close February 24.
For further information on the Local Sports Defibrillator Program, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program