Ambulance Victoria and the Heart Foundation are teaming up to teach Victorians life-saving skills through the Heart Safe Communities program, including CPR and how to use a defibrillator.
The program aims to boost survival rates from heart attacks in a concerted effort in selected towns across the state, teaching locals AV’s ‘Call, Push, Shock’ method.
Mansfield Shire town Bonnie Doon will also be commencing the year-long program, with Corryong in the Towong Shire and Bright in the Alpine Shire having just completed it this month.
Thirty-one per cent of Corryong’s and 13 per cent of Bright’s populations learnt what to do in response to an incident of cardiac arrest over the past year.
AV Hume regional director Narelle Capp congratulated those involved in the program, as Bonnie Doon and Nagambie readied for its commencement.
“The Heart Safe Communities program is all about teaching Victorians that anyone can save a life — simply follow the three simple steps: call 000, push hard and fast on the middle of the chest to give CPR, and shock using an AED,” she said.
“Every minute matters in a cardiac arrest, and it’s pleasing to know more people in our region will now feel confident to act while paramedics are on their way.
“We’re excited to get to work with community members in Bonnie Doon and Nagambie, and empower them with the skills to save a life.”
Bonnie Doon and Nagambie residents will also discover how to register public defibrillators and join GoodSAM, a mobile app linking community members to nearby cardiac emergencies, fostering a network of local lifesavers.
After launching in 2019, the program has been completed by 54 communities across Victoria, with another 12 towns commencing it in 2025-26.
“In a Heart Safe Community, residents who’ve taken part in the initiative are equipped with the knowledge and tools to respond to somebody experiencing a cardiac arrest,” Heart Foundation Victoria general manager Chris Enright said.
“The Heart Foundation is proud to work alongside Ambulance Victoria to provide communities with access to life-saving resources and training through the Heart Safe Communities program.”
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