Defibrillator funding for five local sporting groups

FIVE sporting organisations in the Lismore electorate have secured funding for life-saving defibrillators under a state government grant program.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides up to $3000 to eligible sport and active recreation organisations to purchase automated external defibrillators for community facilities.

“Our five recipients are among 190 successful organisations across NSW in this funding round, taking the total to more than 2500 defibrillators awarded for use since the program was established,” she said.

Funding recipients include Tenterfield Golf Club, Kyogle Golf Club, the Findon Public Recreation Reserve Trust for the Bundgeam tennis court, Goonellabah Tennis Club and Lismore Basketball Association.

Ambulance services attend about 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Australia each year, with survival rates significantly higher when defibrillators are used quickly.

The NSW Government has also awarded a $150,000 grant to the Heartbeat of Football Foundation to conduct research into which sports facilities have defibrillators installed.

The research began in September 2025 and is expected to help guide future investment in the equipment.

STAFF WRITER