Life-saving defbrillators available for sports facilities: Saffn

responsible for sports facilities across the Lismore Electorate can apply for their share of $500,000 in funding from the NSW Government for new life-saving defbrillators, according to Lismore MP Janelle Saffn.

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

Since the program started, more than 2,000 defbrillators have been installed at sports facilities across New South Wales.

Applications close 27 November 2024 or when funding is exhausted.

For further information, including eligibility criteria, please see the program guidelines via the QR code below.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffn said:

“With our high participation rates in organised sports and public spaces lending themselves to outdoor recreation, it’s critical that as many local sports facilities as possible are equipped to respond to potentially lifethreatening incidents.

“This popular program traditionally has had a strong take-up rate, so I urge eligible sporting organisations to make an application in this funding round to increase the coverage of defbrillators in our towns and villages.

“Every life saved is worth it.”

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“With more than 9,000 out of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in NSW each year, the frst few minutes following an incident are critical, and access to a defbrillator can mean the difference between life and death.

“The NSW Government wants to ensure people participating in sport have access to this life-saving equipment.

“The Local Sport Defbrillator Program ensures clubs are equipped to respond to these life-threatening emergencies.”

Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Codeputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac

Research Institute, said:

“Being able to access a defbrillator 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 defbrillator is used in the frst few minutes of a cardiac arrest.

“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.”