How to Ensure Your School's Defibrillator Is Always Ready to Save a Life
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are one of the most effective life-saving devices available in a school environment. When a cardiac emergency occurs, every second counts — and a functioning AED can be the difference between life and death.
Yet across NSW and the ACT, many schools unknowingly have AEDs with:
This guide explains what parents, teachers, and school leaders must know about AED readiness.
AEDs are not mandated for every school, but all schools—government, Catholic, and independent—must meet WHS obligations that directly relate to AED readiness.
In NSW and the ACT, there is no universal law requiring every school to install an AED. However, once a school chooses to have an AED on site, it must be maintained appropriately under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice.
These obligations apply to all schools regardless of sector, because every school is considered a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) under WHS law.
All schools must ensure:
Most school systems—including government, Catholic, and independent—require regular CPR training for staff, which often includes AED familiarisation, as AEDs are now considered standard first-aid equipment.
For students with specific health needs, all schools must develop an Individual Health Care Plan in consultation with parents and medical practitioners.
When a student has a cardiac condition, medical practitioners may recommend access to an AED as part of that plan.
Schools should also complete a risk assessment to determine whether an AED is reasonably required, considering:
Different school systems (government, Catholic, independent) provide guidance and support for deciding whether an AED is needed and how it should be maintained. Regardless of sector, the maintenance obligations are identical once an AED is installed.
Sources:
Key Point:
Once an AED is installed in any school, it must be inspected and maintained in a safe, working condition.
AEDs depend on consumables that degrade over time:
Expire (often every 2–4 years)
Expire (3–7 years depending on model)
Readiness indicator lights can fail
Heat, dust and improper storage accelerate deterioration
Critical Warning
A device can "look fine" but quietly fail.
Performed by trained school staff:
Performed by a qualified technician:
Liberty Test & Tag provides:
Important Note:
We do not perform biomedical servicing — that must be carried out by an authorised biomedical technician.
A simple AED readiness inspection takes less than 20 minutes — but for a child with a known medical condition, it represents trust, care, and duty of care in action.
Call us: 0437 743 712