The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides grants to community sport clubs for half the cost of purchase and maintenance of an Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said having defibrillators at sporting clubs, grounds and events can increase the chance of survival by up to 75 per cent for people experiencing a cardiac arrest, be they sporting participants or spectators.

“Across the state, the NSW government will aim to provide more than 2,500 defibrillators to local communities and I urge eligible local clubs to consider applying,” Mrs Pavey said.

Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, said the Local Sport Defibrillator Program has assisted over 400 sporting organisations attain the life-saving technology during the first round of the program’s scheduled four year duration.

“With over 7,000 people experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest in NSW every year, immediate access to CPR and defibrillation at local sports grounds is vital,” Mr Ayres said.

“In 2018, we hope to increase the availability of defibrillators at community-based sports facilities and improve the likelihood of survival for incidents of cardiac arrest.”

Applications close 14 September 2018.