Registering defibrillators in Australian workplaces
Australia records approximately 32,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year.
That’s 25 times our annual road toll. Yet when someone collapses, the difference between life and death often comes down to one critical factor - whether a defibrillator can be located in time.
Having a defibrillator on site is an excellent step in the right direction but without proper registration, these life-saving devices are invisible to emergency services call-takers when they’re needed most.
Registration transforms a defibrillator from a compliance checkbox into an active participant in your community’s emergency response network.
Why an unregistered defibrillator is a missed opportunity
When someone calls Triple Zero for a sudden cardiac arrest, one of the first things the call-taker will do is check for registered defibrillators nearby.
A Triple Zero call-taker is unable to direct bystanders to an unregistered device, even if it’s metres away from someone fighting for their life.
Without registration, the defibrillator mounted on your workplace wall won’t appear in their system.
In those critical first minutes, when survival rates drop by 10 per cent every 60 seconds without defibrillation, an unregistered device offers little aid to people who want to help save a life but have no access to an AED.
Registration also connects your defibrillator to systems like GoodSAM, which immediately alerts trained responders to cardiac arrests in their area and directs them to the nearest registered device.
Without registration, your workplace AED is unconnected to the emergency response network that could be instrumental in saving someone’s life.
Survival statistics that demand attention
Early defibrillation changes everything.
When a defibrillator is applied within the first couple of minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates can reach as high as 70 per cent. Without early defibrillation, less than 5 per cent of cardiac arrest victims survive.
In Victoria alone, 141 people were shocked by public defibrillators in 2023-24, with 47 per cent surviving. But these cases represent only a tiny fraction of the 7,545 people who went into cardiac arrest outside hospital that year. The overall survival rate was just 6 per cent.
Applying that 47 per cent survival rate more broadly suggests that over 3,000 lives could theoretically be saved each year in Victoria if more people had been able to use registered, accessible defibrillators.
Registration isn’t bureaucracy, it’s a bridge between your investment in safety equipment and actual lives saved.
How registration works in practice
Registering your defibrillator is straightforward.
Each state and territory maintains its own defibrillator registry, accessed through ambulance services via the GoodSAM app. In Victoria, defibrillators are registered with Ambulance Victoria’s registry, which feeds into the emergency response system.
The registration process captures essential information: the exact type and location of your device, its accessibility hours, and how to reach it during an emergency. This data becomes immediately available to Triple Zero call-takers and registered responders via the app.
Most modern defibrillators perform routine self-testing, making maintenance simple. The key is regular inspection. Check the readiness status indicator regularly, note when batteries were installed, and ensure they remain within expiry dates. Regularly check pad expiry dates and packaging integrity as well. Registration systems may also require periodic confirmation that your device remains operational and accessible.
South Australia has led the way by mandating registration within two weeks of installation. This strict requirement ensures that no life-saving equipment falls through the cracks of good intentions.
Where defibrillators should be positioned
Location may be as important as registration.
Defibrillators should be placed where people can find them quickly, with clear signage indicating their location. High-traffic areas near entrances make ideal locations for restaurants, offices, or community venues.
Avoid locked units that could delay or prevent access during emergencies. Instead, use cases or holders with simple coded access that can be quickly communicated by emergency operators. The goal is to eliminate barriers between the device and someone who needs it.
For public venues, 24/7 accessibility is ideal. If this isn’t possible, ensure availability during all operating hours and clearly communicate access limitations during registration. Emergency services need to know whether a device can be reached at 3am or only during business hours.
A recent incident at a public venue in Melbourne highlights what can go wrong.
When a visitor there suddenly collapsed, no defibrillator was registered with GoodSAM, the app used by Ambulance Victoria to locate public AEDs. Despite three off-duty emergency health professionals performing CPR for 15 minutes, with no access to a defibrillator before the ambulance arrived the patient died at the scene.
Legal landscape across Australia
South Australia became the first state to mandate defibrillator installation and registration in 2025.
The legislation applies to public venues and Crown-owned properties, and eventually extends to private businesses, buildings, and public transport. Non-compliance can result in fines up to $20,000.
New South Wales has introduced similar legislation for parliamentary review, signalling growing recognition of defibrillators as essential public safety equipment.
In Victoria, WorkSafe requires employers to have defibrillators on site if cardiac arrests are likely and it’s reasonably practicable. For public venues, registered defibrillators are recommended but not mandatory. The state points to having more than 10,000 registered AEDs and Australia’s best cardiac arrest survival rate as evidence their approach is working.
However, leading cardiologists argue that thousands of Australians would still be alive if defibrillators had been nearby when they went into cardiac arrest.
The case for national standards grows stronger as evidence accumulates.
What registration means for your organisation
Registration demonstrates commitment to safety that extends beyond your walls.
It signals that your organisation values community wellbeing and takes its duty of care seriously.
Customers and clients increasingly consider safety records when deciding who to do business with. A registered defibrillator visible to the public builds trust and positions your organisation as professionally managed and community-minded.
For sports clubs, community centres and recreational facilities, registration is particularly important. These venues see high activity levels and, statistically, face greater likelihood of cardiac emergencies. A registered defibrillator can mean the difference between a tragedy and a recovery story.
Registration also creates opportunities for staff engagement around safety. Training staff to use defibrillators and understand the registration system fosters a culture where everyone feels responsible for wellbeing.
This carries over into other safety practices and operational improvements.
Ripple effect of widespread registration
When registration becomes standard practice, it creates a predictable emergency response landscape.
Instead of asking “Is there a defibrillator?” emergency call-takers can direct someone to the nearest AED. This shift saves precious seconds that translate directly into lives saved.
Widespread registration also builds community confidence. People feel safer in venues and spaces where they know life-saving equipment is readily available and accessible. This matters for events, public spaces, and everyday activities.
The story of Sue Buckman and Liam Birch illustrates the long-term impact. After her 19-year-old son Stephen died during football training without access to a defibrillator, Buckman founded Defib For Life. Years later, one of their supplied defibrillators saved Liam Birch’s life at the very same ground where Stephen had died.
Registration ensures these devices remain part of an active responsive network rather than isolated pieces of equipment.
How Shocktober builds awareness and capability
Every October, the Shocktober campaign focuses on building life-saving skills across communities.
This month-long initiative highlights the critical importance of learning CPR and This month-long initiative highlights the critical importance of learning CPR and understanding how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Shocktober recognises that the benefits of registered defibrillators may be minimised if people don't know how to use them or are too hesitant to act during an emergency. The campaign addresses this gap by encouraging workplaces, schools, community groups and individuals to undertake CPR and AED training during October.
For organisations with registered defibrillators, Shocktober presents an ideal opportunity to refresh staff training and ensure everyone knows where the device is located. Consider hosting training sessions, running awareness activities, or partnering with local first aid providers to build confidence across your team.
The beauty of modern defibrillators is their simplicity. They provide clear voice instructions and cannot be misused. If applied to someone not experiencing cardiac arrest, nothing happens.
The devices are designed specifically so that bystanders can use them safely and effectively, even without prior training. Shocktober training builds the confidence that transforms hesitant bystanders into effective first responders.
Many organisations use Shocktober to audit their emergency response capabilities. Check that your defibrillator is properly registered, ensure staff know its location, verify that access codes or cabinet keys are readily available, and confirm that your device is performing its self-tests successfully. These simple checks during October can identify issues before they become critical during an actual emergency.
Shocktober also provides excellent opportunities for community engagement. Share your commitment to safety on social media, invite neighbours or fellow businesses to training sessions, or use the campaign as a launching point for broader safety initiatives.
This visibility reinforces your organisation's values while contributing to a safer community.
Making registration sustainable
Treating registration as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time task ensures your defibrillator remains effective.
Assign someone within your organisation to be responsible for checking the AED regularly, and updating registration details if anything changes.
Document your processes around defibrillator maintenance and registration updates. This ensures continuity if staff change and demonstrates due diligence in meeting your duty of care obligations.
Consider joining industry initiatives or local networks focused on cardiac arrest prevention.
These communities share best practices, provide support, and often offer resources for training and maintenance.
Conclusion
Registering your defibrillator isn’t complicated bureaucracy.
It’s an essential step that transforms safety equipment into part of a life-saving network that emergency services can access instantly.
With 32,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in Australia, every registered defibrillator represents potential lives saved. The statistics are clear - early defibrillation can improve survival rates from 5 per cent to 70 per cent.
Whether you’re managing a theatre, running a sports club, or operating a business, registration ensures your investment in safety delivers maximum community benefit.
It demonstrates leadership, builds trust, and most importantly, gives someone fighting for their life the best possible chance of survival.
Take the time to register your defibrillator today. The few minutes it takes could make all the difference when every second counts.
References
Safe Work Australia - Model WHS laws
Ambulance Victoria - Register my AED