GRANTS OPEN FOR LIFE SAVING DEFRIBRILLATORS

Spectators and players from community sporting clubs will benefit from a state wide rollout of the Local Sport Defibrillator Program from today.

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres today joined Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson and members of local clubs at The Greens in North Sydney to announce the opening of the breakthrough grant scheme.

“More than 33,000 Australians experience cardiac arrest every year, and the first eight minutes are critical to improving the likelihood of survival,” Mr Ayres said

“Early access to CPR and defibrillation can influence survival rates by up to 75 percent.

“This $4 million program will enable more than 2,500 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be installed at grass roots sporting facilities over the next four years.“

Felicity Wilson said; “We encourage local sporting clubs to take this opportunity to apply for a grant to help fund an AED – which can be the difference between life and death.”

“The program will fund up to 50 per cent of the defibrillator cost, along with training and maintenance support.”

The scheme is targeting community sports clubs, but applications from licensed sporting clubs and sports organisations associated with schools, churches, universities, and councils will also be considered.

Applications close 20 December 2017. For more information visit: sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants