Purchasing a defibrillator is a significant investment — but there are genuine funding pathways that can help schools, sporting clubs, community organisations and small businesses make it happen. Below is a practical guide to grants, a frank warning about misleading offers, and details of Defibshop’s own community pledge.
Big news on school and community grants — click here for more details.
Where to Look for AED Grants & Funding
Grants to assist with the purchase of a defibrillator may be accessible from a variety of sources. The following is a starting point:
- Club grants programs — social, sporting and community clubs often have grants available to members and affiliated groups
- Government community grants — Local, State and Federal governments all run community grant programs. Check your local council website as a first step
- Small business grants — Local, State and Federal government programs exist specifically for small businesses
- Business donations — think about which local businesses your members and community already support, and approach them to support you in return
Schools — contact us for assistance in making your school a Heart Safe location. Our school program can help.
Sporting Clubs — contact us for assistance in making your sporting club or venue a Heart Safe location.
The following national programs are worth exploring. Note that grant rounds open and close throughout the year — check each site for current availability:
- Australian Parliamentary Grant Guide — community grants quick guide
- Westpac Foundation Community Grants
- Community Grants — Commonwealth Bank
- Australian Communities Foundation
- The Grants Hub — subscription service aggregating available grants
⚠️ Buyer Beware — Grant Offers That Aren’t What They Seem
The Defibshop is regularly contacted by customers who have found grant offers advertised online. Our advice: be very careful. Many so-called ‘grants’ turn out to be nothing more than a standard discount off the recommended retail price — dressed up as community funding.
If a grant of $1,000 is advertised, call the organisation and ask directly: what does the $1,000 actually represent? What do I receive for it? Do I pay anything upfront? If they’re offering a genuine grant, you should not be paying anything upfront to receive it.
Also ask: does the grant result in a genuinely good-quality defibrillator, with real product knowledge offered and a real commitment to ongoing service and support? A defibrillator is a critical piece of medical equipment. Do your homework before committing.
A Note on ‘Not for Profit’ Organisations
Some organisations market themselves as Not-for-Profit — advertising on commercial radio, in newspapers and online. But are they genuinely what they claim? Before engaging with any such organisation, we recommend:
- Check their details on the ASIC website
- Check who the directors are and what vested interests may exist
- Ask how the organisation’s finances are redistributed back into the community
- Ask to see financial reports showing where funds go
- Call their advertised number and ask directly how they will subsidise your purchase
Most importantly: will they come out and train your staff on the device? Will they still be there in five years to offer support? Is selling defibrillators and providing ongoing care actually their core business — or a sideline?
The Defibshop Pledge
If you find out how much a Not-for-Profit organisation is genuinely willing to discount your defibrillator — and we mean really discount — let us know. We will match their price and donate that same amount to a children’s charitable organisation or hospital of your choice.
We’ll show you a copy of the receipt so you know the donation has genuinely been made. That’s our pledge to you.
Special Circumstances
Do you have a child with a diagnosed cardiac condition? Or are you looking to equip a remote community with limited access to emergency services? The Defibshop can assist in circumstances where access to a defibrillator is especially critical. Contact us to discuss your situation →
Who Has the Defibshop Supported?
The Defibshop is committed to being an active and generous corporate citizen — giving back to the communities that support us. Here is a sample of organisations we have donated to:
- Community Defib Project — installing community-accessible AEDs in vulnerable and remote communities across Australia
- Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick
- The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
- Scouts Australia NSW Air Activities Centre
- Daniel Morcombe Foundation
- Lions Club Ballina
We have also made donations back to many of the community groups, sporting clubs and families who have purchased a defibrillator through us — and from time to time we assist families with children who have a diagnosed life-threatening cardiac condition, or individuals who have themselves survived a Sudden Cardiac Arrest and wish to have an AED at home.
To all our Defibshop customers — your purchase makes this possible. Thank you.
How to Choose an AED for Your Organisation
Once you have your funding in place, our paramedic team will help you choose the right device for your environment.
Do I Need Training?
Ready to explore your options?
Call our team at any time — we’ll help you find a path to getting a life-saving defibrillator into your community.
Or send us an enquiry — we’ll get back to you promptly.
Defibshop — makes saving lives easy!
Australia’s No.1 Defibrillator Store