Community Defibrillator Fund

• Early access to a defibrillator helps save lives.
• It is extremely important in rural and remote locations across Tasmania.
• Our Community Defibrillator Fund currently provides 180 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs).
• The Tasmanian Government provides AEDs to community and not-for-profit organisations and individuals.
• 90 AEDs are available each during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 financial years.
• Applications for the 2022-23 financial year closed on 14 August 2022.

Learn more about AEDs here

How to apply for an AED through the fund

We consider your applications based on:

• your location and accessibility of the defibrillator
• your ability to maintain it
• registering your defibrillator in the Early Access to Defibrillator Program
• your willingness to respond to a cardiac arrest through the Early Access to Defibrillator Program
• your willingness to maintain your AED, including costs of replacing AED battery and pads.

Cost to replace the AED battery and defibrillator pads

The cost is approximately:

• $250 every four years for batteries
• $85 every two years for defibrillator pads.

Where to store the AED

• Store your AED in an area that is easy to access 24 hours, seven days per week.

Where to access AED training

• You do not need training to use the AED machine.
• Turn it on.
• The machine will give you simple steps for everything you need to do.
• On-line training is also available.

Why you should register your AED

• This advises us of the location of nearby devices to a cardiac arrest.
• Once you register your machine, we add your location to the AED Locator smartphone app.
• Find the app of on the Apple Store and for Android from Google Play.
• This helps us respond better to 000 calls.
• To check your registration, email us: [email protected]

What to do if you need to use your AED

• Immediately call 000.
• The operator can help you use of the AED.
• Once turned on, the AED will talk you through the procedure.
• You cannot do any harm to a person by applying an AED.

Legal risks of using an AED

If the patient does not survive, there is no significant legal risk if you use the AED:

• in good faith
• without recklessness
• in response to an emergency
• without expecting any financial reward.