NSW Local Sport Defibrillator Grant 2026 Round Now Open
August 31, 2026
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Applications for the 2026 NSW Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program are open, with $500,000 available to help community sporting clubs across the state install an AED. If your club has been putting off getting a defibrillator because of the cost, this is the round to apply in.
Eligible clubs can receive up to $3,000 towards an approved AED package, and applications close on 7 October 2026, or earlier if funding runs out first. Here is what has changed for 2026, who can apply, and how to make sure your application is ready to go.
The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program is back for another year, with the NSW Government releasing $500,000 in funding to sporting clubs and facility owners. As with previous rounds, grants are capped at $3,000 per club and are designed to cover the cost of a complete AED package, not just the device on its own.
Priority continues to go to clubs in disadvantaged communities and those experiencing genuine financial hardship. This is the same approach used in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 rounds, where funding was directed towards clubs in the bottom five Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) postcodes, or those who could demonstrate they were struggling to meet core expenses.
Your club can apply if it is an incorporated not-for-profit sport or recreation organisation, a state or national sporting body applying on behalf of member clubs, a licensed sporting club where the AED will directly benefit members or participants, or a sports club connected to a school, church or university that is independently incorporated.
To qualify for funding, your club, facility or the majority of your participants need to be located in a lower SEIFA postcode, or you need to be able to demonstrate financial hardship. Government departments, for-profit businesses, individuals and Parents and Citizens (P&C) Associations are not eligible to apply.
For the full eligibility criteria and everything else you need to know before applying, see our NSW Local Sport Defibrillator Grant page.
The grant is designed to cover a complete AED package, not just the defibrillator itself. That typically includes the device, electrode pads, a carry bag or wall cabinet, a battery charger where required, and instructional materials for your volunteers and staff.
Popular options for clubs applying this round include the HeartSine Samaritan 350P, a compact and low-maintenance device suited to smaller clubhouses, and the LifePAK CR2 Essential, built to handle outdoor conditions on grounds and courts. Both fit comfortably within the $3,000 cap.
Demand for this program has consistently outstripped supply. In the 2024/25 round, 283 applications were submitted but only 193 could be funded before the $500,000 pool was exhausted, weeks ahead of the published closing date.
Applications are assessed in the order they are received, not all at once after the deadline. That means clubs who apply early have a meaningfully better chance of securing funding than those who wait until closer to 7 October 2026.
Our team can help you choose an AED package that fits comfortably within the $3,000 grant, confirm pricing before you submit your application, and answer any questions about eligibility or the application process itself. Every defibrillator and bundle we sell ships free, anywhere in NSW.
We have supplied AEDs to sporting clubs, schools and large organisations across the state, including a recent contract to supply and upgrade 900 AEDs across the Ausgrid network. Call us on 1300 331 193 and we can help you get your application ready.
Applications are assessed in the order they are received, and the program can close early once the $500,000 pool is fully allocated. This happened in the 2024/25 round, when funding ran out several weeks before the published deadline. We recommend applying as early as possible.
Yes, clubs that received funding in an earlier round are still able to apply. These applications are only funded once new, first-time applicants have been assessed and if funding remains available.
It helps to know which package you intend to nominate before you submit your application, so you can confirm it fits within the $3,000 cap. Our team can talk you through your options and confirm pricing before you apply.
AED packages typically include instructional materials and guidance on use, and our team provides face-to-face or virtual familiarisation as part of every package we supply. This helps your volunteers and staff feel confident using the device if it is ever needed.
The 2026 NSW Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program is open now, with $500,000 available and grants of up to $3,000 per club. Given how quickly previous rounds have been exhausted, the earlier your club applies, the better.
Read the full eligibility criteria and package options on our Local Sport Defibrillator Grant page, or call us on 1300 331 193 and we will help you get started.