GoodLoop Mutual, through its StreetBeat initiative delivered in partnership with St John Ambulance ACT, has reached a major milestone in community safety, with Canberra now on track to become one of the first cities globally to have a publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in every suburb by the end of 2026.

The announcement was made during Heart Week as part of a special community event held at the Canberra Visitors Centre, Regatta Point, bringing together supporters, partners, community leaders and advocates committed to improving emergency response outcomes across the ACT.

To date, StreetBeat has delivered 47 publicly accessible AEDs across Canberra through the support of local businesses, community organisations, volunteers and donors committed to improving emergency preparedness across the region.

The next phase of the rollout has now been significantly accelerated thanks to generous philanthropic support from Frederik Paulsen OBE and Canberra local Mat Franklin, who together contributed more than $350,000 towards the initiative. The funding will support the installation of an additional 77 AEDs across Canberra over the next 12 months.

Importantly, the funding will also support free AED and CPR awareness training delivered by St John Ambulance ACT, helping equip thousands of Canberrans with the confidence to respond in an emergency.

Sudden cardiac arrest remains one of Australia’s leading causes of death, with survival rates decreasing dramatically for every minute defibrillation is delayed. Publicly accessible AEDs can play a critical role in improving survival outcomes during those critical early moments.

Recent incidents in suburbs including Waramanga and Lyneham have already demonstrated the value of accessible AEDs, with community members retrieving StreetBeat devices during suspected medical emergencies. While the devices were ultimately not required in those instances, their availability provided immediate reassurance and preparedness while emergency services were en route.

Speaking at the announcement, GoodLoop Mutual CEO Ivan Slavich said the milestone reflected what is possible when communities unite around a shared purpose.

“The generosity of our philanthropic supporters has allowed us to significantly accelerate the rollout of StreetBeat, bringing life-saving equipment within reach of more Canberrans than ever before,” he said.

St John Ambulance ACT CEO Martin Fisk said increasing access to AEDs was only part of the solution.

“Through this initiative, we’re not only increasing access to life-saving equipment, but also building confidence in the community to use it. These devices are simple, safe, and can save a life in those critical first few minutes,” he said.

Canberra philanthropist Mat Franklin said the initiative was about equity and ensuring all communities had access to life-saving support.

“Your chance to survive a sudden cardiac arrest should not be determined by your postcode,” he said.

“We’re removing the disadvantage caused by uneven access to AEDs and helping create safer, more resilient communities across Canberra.”

As StreetBeat continues to grow, additional AED installations will progressively appear across Canberra suburbs throughout the year, bringing the initiative closer to its long-term vision of ensuring every community has access to life-saving support when it matters most.

Find out more about how to use the AEDs, where they are located and more at streetbeat.life