St John Tasmania is jumpstarting the giving season by launching its St John Tasmania Community Safe Program, which will provide lifesaving defibrillators to charities and community groups.
The first recipient of the program is the Dogs' Homes of Tasmania, which provides shelter and care for thousands of lost, abandoned, and unwanted dogs every year.
St John Tasmania recognises the vital role that the Dogs' Homes play in the community and wants to support its mission by donating a defibrillator that could potentially save the life of a staff member, volunteer, or visitor.
The Dogs' Homes of Tasmania recently made headlines in the Mercury newspaper, revealing that it is facing a financial crisis and is facing an uncertain future due to rising operating costs.
Mark Wild, CEO, Dogs' Homes of Tasmania said he extended a heartfelt thanks to St John Tasmania for their generous donation.
“This not only enhances the safety of our team and visitors but also allows us to redirect funds to the well-being of the dogs in our care. Thank you, St John Ambulance Tasmania, for your commitment to community safety and support during what is a challenging time for us and many Tasmanians."
St John Tasmania CEO Andrew Paynter said that as a wholly self-funded charity, St John is acutely aware of the challenges that charities face in the current economic climate.
"We are delighted to give a defibrillator to the Dogs' Homes of Tasmania, as they share our values of compassion, dedication, and service to the community,” he said.
“We hope that this gift will help them continue their important work as well as inspire others to support them in any way they can.
"A defibrillator is a device that delivers an electric shock to the heart of someone who is having a cardiac arrest, which can restore a normal heartbeat and save their life. Every minute without defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10 percent, so having a defibrillator on site can make a huge difference," he added.
Mr Paynter said that St John Tasmania has committed to giving away 10 defibrillators over the next year and is calling on the business community to get behind this cause.
“By donating these devices to local organisations, we are not only keeping that community safe, but ideally, we are creating a network of community safe spaces where anyone can access a defibrillator in an emergency.
“We strongly encourage the business community to get in touch to find out how they can support us in our mission to deliver and expand on our lifesaving products and programs.”
St John Tasmania is a self-funded organisation that relies on donations and fees for service to deliver its services and programs.
Charities and community groups are invited to apply for a Defibrillator through the Community Safe Program by clicking the button below.
