Do Australian Workplaces Legally Need an AED?
 

While not all Australian workplaces are legally required to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace under Work Health and Safety (WHS) or Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation.
 

South Australia is currently the only state with legislation specifically requiring AEDs in certain locations. Under the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022, commercial buildings with a floor area exceeding 600 m² must have an AED installed
and accessible from 1 January 2026.
 

In all other Australian states and territories, there is no standalone AED legislation. Instead, employers are required to assess workplace risks and implement reasonably practicable measures to protect workers and visitors. The First Aid Code of Practice identifies AEDs as an important control measure where there is a foreseeable risk of cardiac arrest or delayed access to emergency medical services.
 

Many organisations choose to install AEDs not only to help meet their duty of care obligations but also because immediate access to a defibrillator can dramatically improve survival outcomes following a sudden cardiac arrest. When used within the first few minutes, alongside CPR, an AED can significantly increase the chances of survival.
 

Statewide Compliance Testing can assess your workplace, recommend the most suitable AED solution, and provide professional installation, ongoing inspections, maintenance, and compliance support to help ensure your workplace is prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency.


Did You Know?
The portable defibrillator was invented in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by physician Frank Pantridge in the mid-1960s, while the first automatic public-use AED ("Heart-Aid") was developed in the United States in the late 1970s