New emergency defibrillators have been installed across the City of Casey, thanks to the collaborative effort across multiple Council departments.
The defibrillators have been installed in public spaces frequented by older people, and can be found at the following 10 locations:
- Arthur Wren Hall, Hampton Park (accessible inside)
- Bayview Reserve Car Park 1001 Steps, Narre Warren North (accessible outdoors, halfway)
- Casey Fields Regional Athletics Centre, Cranbourne East (accessible outdoors, under roofline stadium)
- Connected Library, Endeavour Hills, (accessible inside)
- Cranbourne Senior Citizen Centre, (accessible inside)
- Doveton Senior Citizen Centre, (accessible inside)
- Endeavour Hills Senior Citizen Centre, (accessible inside)
- Hallam Senior Citizen Centre, (accessible inside)
- Marriot Waters Family and Community Centre, Lyndhurst (accessible inside)
- Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick (accessible outdoors, café)
The installation of the new defibrillators is just one of the 49 initiatives in Council's Living and Ageing Well Action Plan, which outlines the strategic direction for creating a more age-friendly Casey, to support the community to live and age well.
When undertaking its extensive engagement for the Action Plan, Council learned that many older people with underlying health issues were hesitant to seek connection and participate in various places or spaces due to uncertainty about emergency support.
This feedback significantly influenced the development of this initiative, with Council departments working together to identify spaces that were frequented by older people (or have the potential to), and not already supported with a defibrillator.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said this initiative is all about making sure people feel safe in our community.
'We know defibrillators save lives, and having them in well-attended public spaces ensures that help is always close by,' Cr Koomen said.
'By installing these defibrillators, we are taking a proactive step to protect our residents. It's not just about the equipment; it's about giving people the confidence to participate in community activities, knowing that emergency support is readily available.'
