Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has asked for the government’s automated external defibrillator (AED) program to be expanded outside sporting clubs, so community groups can apply to have them installed.

“Grants of up to $2,000 are made available for Victorian sporting clubs to acquire an automated external defibrillator (AED), supporting access to life saving equipment. However, local community groups not affiliated with sport can’t access the funding.

“The overall cost to purchase an AED is too expensive for not-for-profit volunteer run committees to fund.

“We know their importance in saving lives, so should we not be getting as many out in the community as possible for what is a relatively small cost to government?

“East Gippsland has an ageing demographic but many of our seniors are engaged in community activities, so we should be looking to service these communities, not that these matters are solely confined to our seniors,” he said.

Mr Bull also queries why there was not compulsory registration for all groups with AED’s.

“I am led to believe registration is optional, so when a crisis occurs there may be one close by, but it if is not registered on the system, no one knows it is there.

“We have one installed in our office and this was an issue we became aware of when we were going through that process. It seems wrong to have AED’s in the community without the location of them being publicly registered,” he said.

Monday, 6 March 2023