There are plenty of older Lismore and Northern Rivers residents still playing weekend sport. You only had to look around Lismore over the last three days to observe over 1,100 athletes running around in the Masters Games.

If you haven't got a defibrillator at your sporting organisation, now is the time to apply for a grant from the NSW Government. They have announced an investment of $500,000 to enable sporting organisations to install life-saving defibrillators at their facilities, while a new project will map facilities that have this critical equipment.

Heartbeat of Football Foundation has also received a $150,000 grant from the state government to conduct the first-ever research into which NSW sports facilities have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed.

The findings will provide vital insight into which facilities do not have the equipment and guide any future government investment in the devices.

Heartbeat of Football will also use the funding to expand its #HeartHealthMatters Program to deliver AED familiarisation and CPR training to sporting organisations across regional NSW.

The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides up to $3,000 to eligible sport and active recreation organisations for the purchase of AEDs at sports facilities.

Since the program commenced, more than 2,300 defibrillators have been funded for use at sports and recreation facilities across NSW.

Applications for the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program close 1 December or when funding is exhausted.

For further information, including eligibility criteria, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program.

Doyalson Wyee Football Club player and NSW’s oldest on-field cardiac arrest survivor, Allen Lyell, 70. He was treated with a defibrillator installed at the ground following that health incident, and said, “I had no symptoms and the doctor said I was fit.

“I was fortunate that there was a defibrillator at the ground and people knew what to do, so I became one of the lucky ones.”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said, “It's vital that sporting organisations are equipped to respond to life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest on the sporting field.

“Last year, the Minns Labor Government supported more than 190 sporting organisations to purchase this potentially life-saving equipment.

“Heartbeat of Football’s mapping project will play a vital role in enabling the Minns Labor Government to plan future targeted investment at sport facilities that need it most.”

Heartbeat of Football Foundation Founder Andy Paschalidies said, “We congratulate and thank Minister Kamper and the Minns Labor Government for their continued support of this program.

“It has already proven to be a lifesaver and our foundation will continue to push for all sporting grounds in NSW, and indeed across Australia, to be equipped with lifesaving and publicly accessible AEDs.”