AusLeisure

City of Ballarat’s Community Impact Grants program has seen the not-for-profit Ballarat Kyokushin Karate school receive a life-saving automated external defibrillator (AED.

Kyokushin Karate head instructors Steve and Monica Hardy successfully applied for a Community Impact Grant of $2,495 to purchase a defibrillator for their karate school.

Their decision to apply for the grant came after they watched a paramedic use a defibrillator on a visiting karate student.

In November 2018, the 12-year-old karate student was completing his grading at Ballarat Kyokushin Karate when he experienced a cardiac event.

Shortly after the student’s father and other bystanders began CPR, two ambulances arrived and used a defibrillator to save the boy’s life. The boy was later diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and has since made a full recovery.

The condition, where there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart, is one of the most common causes of fast heart rate problems in infants and children.

Steve and Monica Hardy, who have spent 46 and 26 years respectively practising and teaching karate, say the defibrillator now provides them with confidence in the event a student or visitor experiences a cardiac incident.

The life-saving defibrillator now sits in a prominent position in the karate school, where it’s easily accessible to instructors, students and their families.

Hardy advises: “If it happens again, we know we have the defibrillator there. We know the defibrillator is a life-saving back-up, in the event that CPR is not achieving a response from the patient.”

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh notes it is imperative more people in the community know about the funding opportunities available through the City of Ballarat’s Community Impact Grants program.

“The Community Impact Grants program is a great opportunity for not-for-profit community groups to apply for funding for a range of projects, equipment upgrades.

“We’ve been able to supply groups with funding to purchase remote video conferencing equipment right through to providing training, purchasing uniforms and now providing access to an automated external defibrillator.

Mayor McIntosh adds “We encourage not-for-profit community groups across the municipality to find out more about the Community Impact Grants program at www.ballarat.vic.gov.au.” 

The City of Ballarat recently adopted changes to the 2019-2020 Community Impact Grant program, making it easier for community organisations to apply for funding. Under the changes, applicants will be able to complete a new streamlined application form for requests of under $2,000, excluding GST. 

Round 1 of the 2019-2020 program closes on 2nd September, 2019. 

Related Articles

23rd May 2019 - Lifesaving defibrillators delivered to Macleay aquatic centres

21st November 2017 - Victorian Government offers more life-saving defibrillators for sports clubs

14th June 2017 - NSW Government announces funding program for defibrillators at sports clubs

24th March 2017 - Socceroos legend Tim Cahill backs defibrillators initiative

22nd January 2017 - FFA provides defibrillators across Australia’s elite football leagues

24th November 2016 - Bystanders and a defibrillator save a life at Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre

11th November 2016 - Belgravia Leisure installs defibrillation units at all of its facilities

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.