Melbourne’s Queensbridge Square will come to life on Thursday 16 October as St John Ambulance Victoria will be hosting free CPR lessons in celebration of Restart a Heart Day, a day dedicated to building confidence, breaking fear, and saving lives. Celebrated globally on October 16th, this day serves as a powerful reminder that anyone can make a difference in an emergency.

Throughout the day, St John team will deliver free, hands-on CPR and defibrillator training to all by-passers eager to learn how to respond in a cardiac emergency.

Supported by Fire Rescue Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Service, Victoria Police, and Zoll Medical, the event aims to spread the message about the importance of CPR skills, and that everyone can make a difference in an emergency situation.

Fear Still a Barrier But Training is the Game-Changer

New national research released by St John Ambulance Australia ahead of Restart a Heart Day revealed that while Australians increasingly recognise the importance of lifesaving first aid, fear and hesitation continue to hold many back from taking action.

The findings show:

• 45% of Australians admit they would be too afraid to use a defibrillator if someone collapsed, down slightly from 51% in 2023, but still alarmingly high.
• 2 in 3 (67%) say they would feel comfortable performing CPR, yet only 19% feel strongly confident doing so.
• Among those trained within the past three years, 85% feel comfortable giving CPR, compared to just 38% among those never trained.
• Fear of using a defibrillator drops from 56% among the untrained to 44% for those recently trained.

“These numbers tell a clear story; training saves lives, not only by teaching skills but by giving people the confidence to act,” said Gordon Botwright, CEO of St John Ambulance Victoria.
“Every minute without CPR or a defibrillator reduces survival by 10%. We can’t let fear stop someone from saving a life.”

Victoria’s Confidence Gap: Turning Fear Into Action

Despite nearly 8,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring across Victoria each year, Victorians remain more fearful of using a defibrillator (50%) compared to people in New South Wales (42%) or Queensland (41%).

“That’s unacceptable when early defibrillation can almost triple survival,” said Mr Botwright.

“St John is urging the Victorian Government to introduce legislation requiring Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in all public buildings. Defibrillator legislation is now in place in South Australia, and, from 1 January 2026, AEDs will be mandatory in any buildings or facilities over 600m² of publicly accessible space. We ask why the Victorian government has not yet considered similar legislation, effectively putting Victorian lives on the line.”

A Willing Generation That Needs Reassurance

The survey also revealed that Gen Z (60%) and Millennials (50%) are the most likely to fear using a defibrillator, even though they are more willing to perform CPR than older generations.

“This younger generation wants to help but needs reassurance and access,” Mr Botwright said.
“Making defibrillators visible, accessible, and supported by regular training will turn willingness into action.”

Real Lives Saved: Peter and Andrew’s Story

Among the most powerful reminders of why training matters was the story of Peter Petricola, who saved his father-in-law Andrew Rogers’ life when he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest on a golf course July last year.

Having completed a CPR course months earlier, Peter performed chest compressions for over 40 minutes, even when professional help arrived, he kept going while paramedics were setting up, like he puts it himself, a ‘mini-mobile hospital’ together, to provide Andrew the treatment he urgently required, as he felt the responsibility for his father-in-law at that moment, giving him the precious chance to survive and recover after major surgery.

“I didn’t want to pass this responsibility to anyone else, as I felt it was my job to keep going. I didn’t even think about it; I only kept going, until paramedics were set up and ready to take over.” Said Peter.

“Training gives people the courage to act, and defibrillators give them the power to save a life,” said Mr Botwright. “We need both.”

Win a St John Defibrillator for Your Community

We can’t all live with a paramedic who’s ready to help the second a sudden cardiac arrest strikes. But having a defibrillator nearby means you can step in and save a life before paramedics arrive.

A defibrillator used within the first few minutes can increase survival rates by up to 70% and during October, also known as ‘Shocktober’, St John Ambulance is giving Victorians the chance to win one for their community.

We’re giving away:

• 1x St John G5 Fully Automatic with iCPR (valued at $2,450)
• 1x St John X3 Defibrillator (valued at $1,995)

To enter, simply share how a defibrillator could make a life-saving difference for your community. Whether it’s a creative tribute, a community moment or a personal story — we want to see it!

Enter now: Shocktober Competition

Continuing the Mission Across Victoria

Restart a Heart Day may have wrapped up in Southbank, but St John’s life-saving mission continues. Throughout October, the St John Mobile CPR Lab will travel across Victoria, giving thousands more people the opportunity to learn CPR and defibrillator use in just a few minutes.

You can check the locations and dates we will be at here: CPRLab - St John Ambulance Australia (VIC) INC - Saving Lives Through First Aid

Because when someone’s heart stops, your hands can start it again.

Learn more about CPR and defibrillator training or book a course at First Aid Courses | First Aid Training & Certification | St John Ambulance VIC Australia