On Thursday 6 June 2024, Campbelltown Catholic Club team and Directors were proud to represent our Club at the 2024 Clubs and Community Awards to recognise and celebrate the amazing contribution clubs across our state make to our communities.

From helping those impacted by domestic violence to making sport and other recreational activities accessible for those with disabilities, clubs across the state go above and beyond to make their communities better places to live.

We were delighted to be recognised as finalists in two categories. One of which was within the Health Care category – for our partnership with Macarthur based clubs Wests Group Macarthur and Ingleburn RSL and the team at Heart of the Nation to install almost 200 AEDs in the Macarthur area between 2023-2026.

Keeping Hearts beating in Macarthur

Sudden cardiac arrest is a critical national health issue, with more than 25,0001 Australians experiencing one each year and only 5%2 of those people going home to their families. Up to 80%3 of these heart-stopping moments occur in the home. The one thing that can have a drastic impact on survival rates, is rapid access for bystanders to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Where an AED is available within the first 3 minutes, survival rates can skyrocket to around 70%4.

Campbelltown Catholic Club, Wests Group Macarthur and Ingleburn RSL and Heart of the Nation are working together to place almost 200 AEDs in the Macarthur area between 2023-2026. It is estimated that within the next three years, almost 10,000 homes in the Macarthur area will have access to an AED within that precious 3-minute window. With an average of 3 people living in each home, that is around 30,000 people that could benefit from this program! With a rate of incidence of 1 in 1,000, it could be expected that there may be up to 30 people every year living within close proximity to these AEDs who will have a far-greater chance of surviving.

The potential for this program to have significant impact in the community cannot be understated. This program is unique, and we are not aware of any other programs anywhere in the world that have made a commitment to placing so many AEDs directly into residential areas where they can have maximum impact.

This program is possible due to the financial support from Campbelltown Catholic Club, Wests Group Macarthur, and Ingleburn RSL Club. Together we have pledged financial support to the value of $200,000 per year, across three years, equating to a total of $600,000.

We have been touched by the level of community engagement and the willingness of community members to host an AED machine on their property. It is gratifying to witness the support of club members with this initiative, and hearing what it means to the community to have these lifesaving machines so accessible for anyone in need.

If you would like to learn more about the Heart of the Nation project, or wish to enquire about having an AED placed on your home, please visit heartofthenation.com.au, or register with us by using the button below.

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It was fantastic to see the contribution of those in our industry and hear stories of support and positive impact. Congratulations to all award finalists and winners and thank you to Clubs NSW for a showcasing the positive impact Clubs have on our communities. For more information on the 2024 Clubs and Community Awards, details on other initiatives and winning Clubs please visit clubsandcommunity.com.

Statistic Source References
  1. Haskins, B., Nehme, Z., Cameron, P. A., & Smith, K. (2021). Cardiac arrests in general practice clinics or witnessed by emergency medical services: a 20‐year retrospective study. Medical Journal of Australia, 215(5), 222-227
  2. NSW Ambulance Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Register, 2020; Ambulance Victoria Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report 2021
  3. Paratz, E., Page, G. J., & Jennings, G. L. (2023). Defibrillator access across Australia: the first step in avoiding a chain of fatality. Med J Aust, 219, 146-148.
  4. Ibrahim, Wanis H (2007), Recent advances and controversies in adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Postgrad Medical Journal; 83:649–654. See: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC2600120%2Fpdf%2F649.pdf&clen=194362&chunk=true ; Ambulance Victoria Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report 2021.