Cumberland Council is launching an educational campaign aimed at increasing public awareness and knowledge about the use of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) within the LGA with a focus on the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community.
This initiative is in response to the growing need for accessible emergency medical equipment and is made possible through a partnership with Heart of the Nation and generous funding from DOOLEYS in Lidcombe through their 2024 Club Grants program.
Cumberland Mayor, Lisa Lake said creating awareness on AED locations and education on how to use them is vital to help save lives in our community.
“Over the next couple of months, in partnership with Heart of the Nation, Council will be holding AED training in our CALD communities. We will be starting workshops in the top six languages spoken in the Cumberland LGA in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Tamil, Nepali and Dari to educate the community on when and how to use defibrillators,” said Mayor Lake.
“We are committed to enhancing the safety and wellbeing of our community by equipping our residents with the knowledge and tools they need to save lives. With a significant portion of the Cumberland community being non-English speaking, it is essential to provide multilingual education on how to use these life-saving devices effectively.”
Heart of the Nation CEO and Founder Greg Page said that “partnering with Cumberland Council and DOOLEYS has been a fantastic example of how government and community can come together to help us increase access to life-saving AEDs in key community areas. Their support helps us advance our vision of a safer, more informed community where everyone has the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to sudden cardiac arrest”.
Cumberland Council has strategically chosen high-traffic and high-risk areas to install the defibrillators, ensuring maximum accessibility for the community.
Thanks to funding from DOOLEYS Catholic Club Grants Program in 2024, the following four AEDs at Wyatt Park in Lidcombe, Granville Park, Civic Park in Pendle Hill and Guildford Laneway will be installed in the coming weeks.
Two AEDs have been provided to the Seniors and Disability Community Buses.
This is in addition to the five AEDs that were installed at Auburn Botanic Gardens, Auburn Town Hall, Auburn Park, Merrylands Community Centre and Merrylands Civic Square.
A Defibrillator in Friend Park in Wentworthville will be installed at the end July.
DOOLEYS Community Relations and Grants Coordinator, Jason White said that DOOLEYS is proud to partner a second time with Cumberland Council and Heart of the Nation to provide lifesaving AEDs to the local community.
“Gaining access to an AED within minutes significantly increases survival rates of cardiac arrest and we are proud to play a small part in ensuring the local community has access to such important lifesaving equipment”.
For more information about the installations, visit www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/new-defibrillator-installations