Canberra is on track to become one of the first cities in the world where every residential suburb has access to a publicly available defibrillator, thanks to a surge in philanthropic support for the StreetBeat initiative.

Backed by St John Ambulance ACT and GoodLoop Mutual, the program has now secured more than $500,000 in private donations to complete a territory-wide rollout of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the end of 2026.

StreetBeat’s earlier campaigns in 2024 and 2025 funded and installed 47 AEDs across Canberra, supported by contributors including Capital Chemist and Community Bank Canberra. But it’s two major philanthropic donations – worth more than $350,000 – that have accelerated the project to full coverage.

Those donations come from Swedish philanthropist Frederik Paulsen and Canberra-based business leader Mat Franklin, manager and partner of Uvance Wayfinders, who together will fund the installation of an additional 77 AEDs across the capital.

Mat Franklin had been looking to make a significant contribution to his city and contacted StreetBeat via St John’s after reading about StreetBeat in a news article, while local St John volunteers made Mr Paulsen OBE aware of the Streetbeat initiative last year when he was visiting Canberra for a St John Grand Priory meeting.

Their contributions will ensure at least one publicly accessible defibrillator in every residential suburb – an outcome advocates say could significantly improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.

Franklin said the initiative is about fairness in access to life-saving care.

“This is about equity in its most practical form. Your chance to survive a sudden cardiac arrest should not be determined by your postcode or income level,” he said.

“We are removing the disadvantage caused by uneven access to AEDs and making lifesaving support consistent across every community in Canberra.”

Beyond equipment, the funding will also support free CPR and AED awareness training for 5000 Canberrans over the next two years, delivered at shopping centres and sporting events.

St John Ambulance ACT CEO Martin Fisk said building public confidence is just as critical as expanding access.

“Even when AEDs are nearby, people can hesitate in an emergency,” he said. “These devices are simple, safe, and can save a life in those critical first few minutes.”

GoodLoop Mutual, alongside its Bendigo Bank-linked community banking network, has also committed to maintaining the devices over the next four years, covering replacement costs for pads and batteries.

Sudden cardiac arrest remains one of Australia’s leading causes of death, with survival often depending on how quickly CPR and defibrillation can be delivered.