Community sporting organisations across the Cessnock electorate can now apply for grants of up to $3,000 to purchase potentially life-saving defibrillators.

The 2026 Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program will provide $500,000 in funding across NSW to help eligible clubs purchase, install and maintain Automated External Defibrillators, as well as provide associated training.

The program is designed to improve emergency preparedness at local sporting facilities, with cardiac arrest able to occur at any time and rapid access to a defibrillator significantly improving a person’s chance of survival.

Since the program was introduced in 2017, more than 2,500 AEDs have been installed at community sport and recreation facilities across NSW.

All devices funded through this year’s program will also be listed on the GoodSAM AED Registry to improve public access to defibrillators during cardiac emergencies.

State Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr encouraged local sporting organisations to apply.

“With more people than ever participating in sport and active recreation in the Electorate of Cessnock it’s vital that our sports facilities are equipped to respond to potentially life-threatening incidents,” he said.

“I urge our local sporting organisations to apply for a grant to have this equipment installed at their facilities.”

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute co-deputy director Professor Jamie Vandenberg said quick access to a defibrillator could make a critical difference.

“Survival rates can more than double if a defibrillator is used in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest,” he said.

“Currently less than one in 10 people who have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital will survive.”

Applications close on Wednesday 7 October, or earlier if available funding is exhausted.

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