Applications are now open for the latest round of the Community Defibrillator Fund, with an additional 180 life-saving devices to be made available through the Tasmanian Liberal Government's $500,000 investment.
The new fund will boost the availability of publicly accessible Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) across the State, recognising that early access to an AED during a cardiac arrest can save lives.
Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma, said community groups, businesses and individuals can apply for a free AED, with applications particularly encouraged from rural and regional areas.
"When someone has a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival declines by almost 10 per cent with each passing minute, and having access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death," Minister Petrusma said.
"Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we're delivering an additional 180 AEDs to help save lives right around the State – adding to the 360 we have already delivered to Tasmanian communities since 2014.
"I strongly encourage community groups, businesses and sporting organisations to apply for an AED to ensure this life-saving equipment is available when and where it is needed.
"The greater the number of publicly accessible AEDs registered across Tasmania, the greater the chance we have of saving lives in the first critical minutes.
"Defibrillators are easy to use without any training and are audio-equipped to guide the user through the procedure, and by hosting one of these devices, you can help our dedicated first responders to save lives."
After a device is placed in the community, it will be findable through the GoodSAM Responder phone app, which supports cardiac arrest responses by alerting nearby registered responders and providing the location of patients and the closest AED.
There are more than 1,000 publicly accessible AEDs registered throughout Tasmania, with 360 additional free devices provided to Tasmanian communities since 2014.
Applications for the fund are open until 31 January 2025.
