Recipients from the Wollongong electorate are:
- Five Islands Outrigger Canoe Club
- Goats Creek Boardriders Club
- Port Kembla Sailing Co-operative Ltd
The funding was awarded to sport and recreation organisations under the NSW Government's Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program which provides up to $3,000 for the purchase, installation and training in new automated external defibrillators.
More than 2,500 devices have been awarded since the program commenced.
Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully said:
"The NSW Government's Local Sport Defibrillator Program helps organisations located in some of the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas get access to these lifesaving devices.
"With more people than ever participating in sport and active recreation in the Wollongong electorate, it's vital that our local facilities are equipped with these potentially life-saving devices.
"I congratulate the recipients and commend them for prioritising the safety and well-being of their members and participants."
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:
"The Local Sport Defibrillator Program equips sports clubs to be able respond to potentially life-threatening emergencies at their sports facilities.
"And with the first few minutes following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest critical, the NSW Government is ensuring people participating in sport and active have access to this potentially life-saving equipment.
"This investment by the NSW Government has the potential to mean the difference between life and death."
Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said:
"Around 10,000 people in NSW suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital each year, and currently the vast majority will die.
"Being able to access a defibrillator in those crucial first minutes can make all the difference, so it's incredibly heartening to see that almost 200 sporting clubs will now be able to purchase and install these lifesaving devices. This will help keep families together.
"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."
