When Paul Rhigas had a cardiac arrest and collapsed playing tennis last October, his teammates raced into the clubhouse and grabbed the automated external defibrillator (AED).

With no training, they turned it on, listened to the instructions and saved their friend's life.

"These devices are self-teaching - you don't need to have medical training to help someone survive a cardiac arrest," Mr Rhigas said.

"I'm back playing tennis, and the club is looking at putting in a second AED as the building is 35m long."

Thanks to the State Government's world-leading laws to mandate defibrillators in the community, there are now almost 1000 more AEDs in sporting clubs and other organisations right across the state.

To help people comply with the law, which will take full effect on 1 January 2026, the South Australian AED Grants Program is available to community and sporting group and religious organisations.

The program offers $1000 funding to eligible organisations for each building/facility used for sporting or community purposes to assist with the purchase of an AED to meet the requirements of the new laws.

The North Eastern MetroStars Soccer Club, which is home to more than 35 teams and has close to 400 players, received funding in the first round of grants.

Dr Mario Soteriou, the Metro Stars club doctor, said the club was grateful for the funding.

"AEDs are essential devices that increase the chance of survival when someone collapses outside of hospital," Dr Soteriou said.

"This AED is installed near the pitch to not only benefit the players and referees directly but also the wider community who attend the matches."

AEDs are portable electronic medical devices that monitor heart rhythms and deliver assisted electrical shock (‘defibrillation’) in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

These devices make an extraordinary difference in the community, as every minute defibrillation is delayed to a person suffering a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent.

AEDs require no training and can be used by anyone who recognises the signs of a cardiac arrest, when someone’s heart is no longer functioning correctly, and they collapse and stop breathing normally.

The new laws, which are being rolled out in stages, mandate AEDs in certain public buildings such as schools, libraries, sporting facilities, local council offices, theatres, swimming pools and places of worship.

Preventive Health SA Chief Executive Marina Bowshall encouraged community groups, sporting clubs and religious organisations to go to the Preventive Health website and check if they're eligible for a grant.

"Improving access to AEDs across South Australian communities will save lives," she said.

Obligations to install AEDs started for State Government-owned buildings, facilities, and emergency service vehicles on 1 January 2025, and will commence for all remaining in-scope buildings, facilities and prescribed vehicles (trains, trams and public buses) on 1 January 2026

Anyone calling Triple Zero (000) during a cardiac arrest emergency will be directed to the nearest AED by the operator.

The South Australian AED Grants Program is currently open to community and sporting organisations, with applications closing on Wednesday 30 April, 2025 at 5pm.

A separate grant round is currently open for religious organisations, with applications also closing on Wednesday 30 April, 2025 at 5pm.

For more information on the Grants Program, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit South Australian Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Grants Program