Canberra is on track to become the first city in the world to have publicly accessible defibrillators in every residential suburb, thanks to $500,000 in private donations. The announcement was made by St John Ambulance ACT chief executive Martin Fisk on Thursday during National Heart Week.
The funding will ensure at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) is installed in each of Canberra's 114 residential suburbs by the end of 2026. The devices are kept in unlocked red cabinets in public areas, available around the clock for use in cardiac arrest emergencies.
More than $350,000 of the donations came from Swedish billionaire Frederik Paulsen and Canberra businessman Mat Franklin. Paulsen, a Knight of the Order of St John, learned about the need for AEDs during a visit to Canberra last year. Franklin, managing partner of Uvance Wayfinders, was inspired by his mother Jane's dedication to community service.
Franklin emphasized the importance of equitable access, stating that survival from cardiac arrest should not depend on postcode or income. The campaign, called StreetBeat, is a joint initiative of Goodloop Mutual and St John Ambulance ACT.
Currently, 47 AEDs have been installed, with another 77 to be added. The donations also cover free training for 2,500 Canberrans each year on how to use the devices and perform CPR. Fisk noted that early CPR and defibrillation can increase survival rates by five times or more.
