South Australia Government Mandates Defibrillators from 1 January 2025

We are honoured to be appointed to South Australia Health’s Defibrillator Panel for Whole of SA Government departments and agencies. As you know, the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 requires AEDs in certain Crown-owned buildings, facilities, and vehicles across South Australia starting January 1, 2025.

The South Australian Government passed the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022, requiring the installation from 1 January 2025 of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all public buildings, including schools, universities, libraries, sporting facilities, and local council offices, as well as certain privately owned buildings such as shopping centres, aged care facilities, prisons, retirement villages, and commercial properties over 600 square meters in size. This makes South Australia the first state or territory in Australia, and one of few in the world, to mandate the public provision of AEDs

The urgency behind the bill lies in the fact that quick access to a portable defibrillator can significantly improve a person’s chances of surviving a heart attack.  For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival decreases by 10%.

The SA government will have a two-year period to roll out the devices, while the private sector will have a three-year period. Those who fail to comply with the laws could face a maximum $20,000 fine.

There will be a requirement to register all AEDs on the publicly available South Australian AED Register from 1 January 2026.  In the meantime, you can choose to register an AED on the existing SA Ambulance Service AED Register.

Integrity Health & Safety, one of Australia’s leading suppliers of defibrillators and a Platinum Partner of both Stryker and ZOLL, the two leading defibrillator manufacturers, has already installed numerous defibrillators in SA – and is keen to do the same for your organisation.  See our defibrillator offerings here and please Contact us 1300 720 024

The below are the designated AED locations (buildings or facilities):

• a public building or facility;
• a prescribed  sporting facility;
• a  school, tertiary institution or education facility  that provides skills training;
• a correctional institution (within the meaning of the Correctional Services Act 1982) or custodial police station (within the meaning of section 78 of the Summary Offences Act 1953);
• a retirement village (within the meaning of the Retirement Villages Act 2016);
• a facility that provides residential care within the meaning of the Aged Care Act 1997 of the Commonwealth;
• a caravan park;
• a residential park (within the meaning of the Residential Parks Act 2007) occupied (or that allows for occupation) by more than 12 residents;
• a casino or other venue where gambling is authorised, other than a venue where the only gambling authorised is the selling and buying of lottery tickets;
• a theatre or other venue where artistic or cultural performances are provided;
• a building or facility, or class of building or facility, prescribed by the regulations
• a building with a floor area of more than 600 meters

A defibrillator is a medical device that delivers an electric shock to the heart in order to restore its normal rhythm. It is used in cases of cardiac arrest or other cases of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia.

A defibrillator is used when a person’s heart has stopped beating or is beating irregularly, which can be caused by various factors such as heart attack, electric shock, or drowning. The goal of the defibrillator is to restore the heart’s normal rhythm so that it can pump blood effectively to the rest of the body.

In many countries, including the United States, Canada, and many European countries, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are designed to be used by anyone, regardless of whether they have medical training. Many public places such as airports, schools, and sports arenas have AEDs available for emergency use.

The cost of a defibrillator can vary depending on the type and features of the device. AEDs designed for public use can range in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Professional defibrillators used in hospitals and medical settings can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

1. If you encounter someone who appears to be in cardiac arrest or experiencing a life-threatening arrhythmia, immediately call for EMS. This should always be your first step.

2. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, ask someone to bring it to you or retrieve it yourself if possible.

3. Once you have the AED, turn it on as per the instructions provided.

4. The AED will come with adhesive pads that need to be placed on the person’s chest. Follow the AED instructions to attach the pads correctly.

5. Once the pads are attached, the AED will analyse the person’s heart rhythm and provide voice or visual prompts for you to follow. The AED will determine if a shock is needed or not.

6. If the AED advises that a shock is needed, make sure no one is touching the person and then press the shock button as instructed. The AED will deliver the shock to the person’s heart to restore its normal rhythm.

7. Even if the AED delivers a shock, you should continue performing CPR until EMS arrives. Defibrillation is just one component of the life-saving interventions that may be necessary.

Integrity Health & Safety offers a range of public and private training programs including first aid, CPR and more.

Integrity Health & Safety offers public and private training courses for first aid, CPR, and defibrillator use. Our team, which includes Intensive Care Paramedics and Nurses, tailors training to suit each workplace and provides hands-on training based on real-life situations.

Our courses are conducted under the auspices of Healthcorp RTO number 91222. While anyone can use a defibrillator in an emergency, it is recommended to familiarise oneself with its use. We sell defibrillators (Zoll, HeartSine, and Lifepak defibrillators) and ship nationwide.