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Defib In Your Street Launches in Werribee as St John Demands Government Action

St John Ambulance Victoria is calling on the state government to follow South Australia’s lead and mandate defibrillators in all public buildings, as it expands its lifesaving Defib In Your Street program to Werribee.

With more than 7,500 Victorians suffering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) each year, quick access to defibrillators can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, in many communities, access remains dangerously limited.

A Life-Saving Mission in Werribee

The area of Werribee selected, located in Wyndham City Council, is home to over 28,000 residents across nearly 13 square kilometres. Shockingly, there are currently only three publicly accessible defibrillators available 24/7 in the area. This lack of access is a major concern, especially given Werribee’s ranking as the third highest suburb for cardiac arrests in Victoria over the past five years.

To address this, St John is rolling out its Defib In Your Street program in Werribee, aiming to install up to 30 defibrillators, ensuring one is available every 400 metres, and train 5,000 community members in CPR and AED use.

“Every minute counts in a cardiac emergency. For every minute without CPR or defibrillation, survival chances drop by 10 per cent,” said Gordon Botwright, St John Ambulance Victoria CEO. “We’ve already installed over 90 defibrillators and trained more than 12,500 Victorians. Now, we’re asking the state government to step up and make defibrillators mandatory in public buildings.”

Proven Impact and Community Support

A study by La Trobe University on our program’s pilot in Reservoir revealed that it reduced travel time to a defibrillator by 2.32 minutes, a 68% improvement, and doubled AED coverage for cardiac arrests.

 The program has since expanded to St Albans and Sunshine, with Werribee now joining the initiative due to its high incidence of SCA.

“Expanding community access to defibrillators is a vital public health measure,” said Dr Cengiz Cimenkaya, Director of Cardiology at Werribee Mercy Hospital.
“The more we empower people to act quickly and confidently before reaching hospital care, the more lives we can save.”

Marj Devereux, Community Development and Engagement Officer, is joined by Ambulance Victoria paramedics, St John volunteers and local council representative

Local resident and retired firefighter George Andrews knows this firsthand.

“I performed CPR on a neighbour who survived a cardiac arrest. That experience showed me how critical timing is,” he said. “I’m proud to host the first public access defibrillator in Werribee. These devices are simple to use, and having more of them will save lives.”

Local resident and first host of DIYS Program in Werribee joined by Gordon Botwright, St John Ambulance Victoria CEO

Why Mandating Defibrillators Matters

Despite the proven effectiveness of AEDs, only 1.86% of cardiac arrest patients in Victoria were defibrillated by a public AED in 2023-2024. With 80% of cardiac arrests occurring at home, community access is essential

South Australia has already installed over 1,000 defibrillators in public buildings. St John Ambulance believes it’s time for Victoria to follow suit.

“We’re proud of the Defib In Your Street program and the difference it’s making,” Mr Botwright added. “But we can’t do it alone. We need government support to ensure every Victorian has access to this lifesaving technology.”

Be A Life Saver

Are you passionate about your local community and want to make the difference by saving someone’s life? You can become a Defib In Your Street Program host.

With your help, we can increase the number of survivors. By joining us, you can make a significant impact and help save more lives in our community.

Your support can make a difference. Here’s how you can help:

Together, we can turn these numbers around and ensure more people have a second chance at life.

To learn more about the program, please visit: Defib in Your Street

Whether you are looking to host a defibrillator, book a free CPR training or a free information session around Werribee, go to: Werribee Defib in Your Street Program

 

 

Defib in Your Street

Creating the safest suburbs to have a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Now in Werribee