By John Haines, Founder of LivCor and former MICA Flight Paramedic. Published 11 October 2026. Last reviewed by John Haines on 11 October 2026.
Reading time: 13 minutes
In an emergency
If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 000, start CPR, and apply an AED as soon as one is available. Every minute without defibrillation lowers the chance of survival by roughly 10 per cent (ANZCOR Guideline 7).
The short version
- South Australia is the first state to require AEDs in non-government workplaces and public buildings, in force for non-Crown buildings since 1 January 2026 under the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022.
- Everywhere else, AEDs are not mandated but are expected wherever a first aid risk assessment points to electrocution risk, a lot of public visitors, or a slow ambulance.
- Risk assessment is the legal foundation in every state. A PCBU that decides against an AED needs to be able to show why.
- A workplace AED is a program, not a purchase. Durability, cabinet, signage, registration, training and consumables tracking decide whether it works on the day.
- The best unit depends on the industry. Offices, clinics and schools want ease of use and child capability. Factories, sites and fleets want ruggedness. Retail and hospitality want visibility and fast public access.
- Budget $1,700 to $3,500 per unit in year one (unit, cabinet, signage, training, registration) and $300 to $600 a year after that.
Contents
- Why workplace AEDs matter
- Are workplace AEDs legally required in Australia?
- What makes a workplace AED different
- Best defibrillators by industry
- What a workplace AED program costs
- Implementation: location, signage, registration, training
- Quick answer: is an AED required in Australian workplaces?
- Frequently asked questions
- Next steps
1. Why workplace AEDs matter
Around 25,000 to 26,000 Australians have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest attended by ambulance each year; of those where paramedics attempt resuscitation, about 13 per cent survive to leave hospital (Aus-ROC; Monash University).
Cardiac arrest is not a heart attack. It is an electrical failure that stops circulation within seconds. The heart will not restart on its own. CPR buys time; defibrillation is the only treatment that can restore a rhythm in ventricular fibrillation, the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (ANZCOR Guideline 7).
The arithmetic is unforgiving. Every minute without defibrillation costs roughly 10 per cent survival (ANZCOR). Where the arrest is witnessed, the rhythm is shockable and a shock is delivered within 3 to 5 minutes with good CPR, survival is many times the population average (Heart Foundation Australia). Past about ten minutes, survival is very low whatever happens next (Capucci et al., Circulation, 2002; ILCOR Scientific Statement, 2022).
Workplaces sit in the middle of that arithmetic for three reasons. People spend most of their waking hours there. Ambulance response in Australian cities runs well past the window: Ambulance Victoria's state-wide average Code 1 response was 15 minutes 27 seconds in the April to June 2025 quarter, against a 15-minute target (Ambulance Victoria, 2025). And cardiac arrest does not check the roster: a fit 40-year-old on the tools can collapse as readily as a 65-year-old with a known heart condition.
I have been on both sides of this. As a MICA paramedic I arrived at workplaces where the first shock came from our machine, minutes after it could have come from one on the wall.
2. Are workplace AEDs legally required in Australia?
In most of Australia, no, but they are strongly recommended under the relevant Code of Practice. In South Australia, the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 makes AEDs a legal requirement for many public and non-government buildings, in full effect from 1 January 2026.
South Australia: required
The Act and the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Regulations 2024 commenced for Crown-owned buildings on 1 January 2025 and for other relevant buildings on 1 January 2026 (SA Health; Law Handbook SA).
- The Act applies to relevant buildings with 600 square metres or more of publicly accessible floor area, on land used for commercial, retail, education, health, aged care, sport and recreation, cultural and government purposes.
- On commercial land with more than 1,200 square metres of publicly accessible floor area, one AED is required for every 1,200 square metres (regulation 10). Schools need one AED per site (regulation 11).
- Failing to install or maintain a required AED carries a maximum penalty of $20,000 (sections 7(2) and 9(2)). Intentionally damaging or removing a registered AED carries up to $10,000 or 12 months (section 16).
- Each AED must be registered with SA Ambulance Service within two weeks of installation (SA Health), so 000 call-takers can send bystanders to it.
- AEDs must be signposted and maintained to the manufacturer's instructions: in practice an annual check, monthly visual checks, and tracked pad and battery expiry dates.
- The device must be included on the ARTG (or approved by the Minister). AEDs have been Class III medical devices since 25 November 2021 (Therapeutic Goods Administration).
For SA businesses with public-facing commercial space, compliance is now operational. SA Health's AED best practice guide is the working reference.
Everywhere else: not mandated, expected under the WHS duty
No other state or territory mandates workplace AEDs by statute. (Western Australian public schools were required to have one by 30 June 2024.) The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice for first aid identifies the AED as equipment to consider in the first aid risk assessment, particularly where:
- workers face a risk of electrocution
- ambulance response is likely to be delayed
- large numbers of the public are regularly on site
Each state has adopted the model code: Queensland's First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021, Victoria's Compliance Code: First aid in the workplace 2021, and equivalents in NSW, WA, NT and Tasmania. SafeWork SA's guidance now references the Public Access Act directly.
| State or territory | AED legally required? | Framework | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia | Yes, relevant buildings since 1 January 2026 | AED (Public Access) Act 2022; Regulations 2024 | SA Ambulance register, within 2 weeks |
| Victoria | No (recommended) | OHS Act; Compliance Code: First aid in the workplace 2021 | Ambulance Victoria register |
| New South Wales | No (recommended) | WHS Regulation 2017 r 42; First Aid Code | NSW Ambulance, GoodSAM |
| Queensland | No (recommended) | WHS Regulation 2011 r 42; First Aid Code of Practice 2021 | Queensland Ambulance register |
| Western Australia | No for general workplaces; public schools since 30 June 2024 | WHS (General) Regulations 2022 r 42; WorkSafe Bulletin 11 | St John WA Community First Responder |
| Tasmania | No (recommended) | WHS Regulations 2022 r 42 | Ambulance Tasmania, GoodSAM |
| Northern Territory | No (recommended) | WHS (NUL) Regulations 2011 r 42; NT Code 2020 | St John NT register |
| ACT | No (recommended) | WHS Regulation 2011 | ACT Ambulance register |
What this means for a PCBU outside SA
A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others at the workplace. There is no blanket AED mandate outside SA, but a documented decision not to install one is harder to defend every year, as units get cheaper and community expectations rise. Victoria and NSW have both looked at SA's model.
3. What makes a workplace AED different
Most AEDs sold for community and home use are capable units; LivCor sells the same models into every setting. A workplace program adds six things to the purchase.
1. Durability and IP rating. A factory floor, a site or a commercial kitchen exposes the unit to dust, moisture and knocks. IP55 suits indoor public spaces and most industrial settings; IP56 is preferable outdoors or where hoses are used. Drop ratings and operating temperature matter too.
2. Adult and child capability. Visitors, contractors and the public include children. A switch that changes mode without swapping pads (Mediana A15, Elliot) is simpler than a separate child pad set or key (Philips HS1 and FRx, HeartSine). Both work if you stock and track the second item.
3. Cabinet and signage. Visible, accessible, protected. An alarmed wall cabinet deters theft and alerts nearby staff when the door opens. Outdoor installations in cold climates need a heated cabinet. Green and white AED signage in line with AS 1319 is required by the SA Regulations and is best practice everywhere.
4. Voice prompts your workforce understands. On a multilingual site, prefer a unit with clear visual prompts or multiple languages.
5. Registration and the emergency plan. The site's emergency response plan must locate the AED, the first aiders must know where it is, and the unit must be on the state register so 000 can direct a stranger to it.
6. Consumables and supplier support. Pads and batteries expire. The most common reason an AED is useless on the day is expired pads nobody was tracking; the second is a battery that died in a corridor nobody walks.
4. Best defibrillators by industry
Eight workplace contexts, a primary recommendation and an alternative for each, chosen on explicit criteria: ease of use, durability for the environment, IP rating, child capability, cost over 8 years, and Australian consumables supply. LivCor sells every unit named. Prices are LivCor's as at October 2026 and change.
| Industry | Primary | Why | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office and professional services | Philips HeartStart HS1 | Lowest unit price after the Elliot, familiar brand, adaptive voice coaching; indoor environment suits IP21 | Mediana A15 where children visit |
| Retail | Mediana A15 | Public foot traffic includes children; one pad set covers adult and child | Philips HS1 |
| Manufacturing | Philips HeartStart FRx | IP55, survives a 1 metre drop onto concrete and 250 kg loads, dust protected | Defibtech Lifeline AUTO (fully automatic, 8-year warranty) |
| Construction | Philips HeartStart FRx | Same ruggedness; portable hard case rather than a fixed cabinet | HeartSine samaritan PAD 500P (IP56), subject to stock |
| Education | Mediana A15 | Adult-to-child switch; cost-effective across several units | Elliot (fully automatic, child button, 680 g) |
| Hospitality and venues | Philips HeartStart HS1 | Simple operation for rotating staff; status light visible from a distance | HeartSine 500P for groups that want one expiry date per unit, subject to stock |
| Healthcare (aged care, dental, allied health, GP, pharmacy) | Mediana A15 | Mixed-age patients; lay staff at reception | Philips HS1 |
| Transport and logistics | Philips HeartStart FRx | Rugged enough for vehicle and depot use; wide operating conditions | Defibtech Lifeline AUTO |
Office
For a climate-controlled office with client visitors, the Philips HeartStart HS1 ($1,449) is the first choice: the lowest unit price in LivCor's range after the Elliot, a widely recognised name, an 8-year warranty, and SMART Pads that adapt the voice prompts to the user's pace. IP21 is fine indoors. If children regularly visit, the Mediana A15 ($1,599) covers them with the same pads.
Retail
Large-format retail, showrooms and shopping centres share the office environment with far more public traffic, children included. The Mediana A15 in an alarmed cabinet is the recommendation, with the Philips HS1 as the alternative. Spend as much thought on cabinet position and signage as on the unit.
Manufacturing
Dust, moisture, heat, vibration and the odd forklift. The Philips HeartStart FRx ($1,990) is rated IP55, withstands a 1 metre drop onto concrete and loads up to 250 kg, and is dust protected (Philips, per LivCor's listing). For operations that want a fully automatic unit, the Defibtech Lifeline AUTO ($2,000) carries an 8-year warranty and a 7-year battery.
Construction
Outdoor, dusty, often remote, with electrocution risk: the strongest case under the Code of Practice in any state. The Philips HeartStart FRx again, in a portable hard case rather than a wall cabinet, registered to the site's emergency plan. For wet or washdown conditions, the HeartSine samaritan PAD 500P (IP56) is the alternative when in stock.
Education
Schools, universities and TAFE campuses have adults and children on site every day. The Mediana A15 is the first choice for its adult-to-child switch on one set of pads. The Elliot ($1,395) is the alternative: fully automatic, a child button, 680 grams, and status reported to a phone app. SA schools need one AED per site (regulation 11); most school risk assessments add units at sports facilities and large venues. WA public schools have been required to have an AED since 30 June 2024.
Hospitality
Hotels, restaurants, function venues and licensed premises have high foot traffic and staff who turn over. The Philips HeartStart HS1 suits that: simple, familiar, with a status light staff can see from the bar. Multi-venue groups that want one expiry date per unit should look at the HeartSine 500P with its single Pad-Pak, subject to stock, and should check the current status of the 2025 HeartSine market actions with the sponsor before buying.
Healthcare
Aged care, dental, allied health, GP and pharmacy settings have more first aid capability than most workplaces and a mixed-age patient population. The Mediana A15 is the recommendation for its child mode and ease of use by reception staff. Acute hospitals use clinical defibrillators and are out of scope here.
Transport and logistics
Fleet depots, freight terminals and transport hubs need units that live in vehicles and sheds. The Philips HeartStart FRx is the recommendation for its ruggedness; the Defibtech Lifeline AUTO is the fully automatic alternative. SA's Act also reaches certain prescribed vehicles, including public buses and emergency service vehicles.
5. What a workplace AED program costs
Year one for a single unit, using LivCor prices as at October 2026 where they apply:
| Item | Typical range (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AED unit | $1,395 to $2,319 | Elliot to HeartSine 500P package |
| Alarmed wall cabinet | About $120 to $160 as a package upgrade, more for outdoor or heated | For example the HS1 package with alarmed cabinet is $1,609 against $1,489 without |
| Signage | $85 for a complete AED sign package | |
| First pads and battery | Included with the unit | Pads every 2 to 4 years; battery every 4 to 7 |
| Staff training (CPR and AED, one day) | $80 to $180 per person | Usually 2 to 4 first aiders per site |
| Registration | Free, administrative time only | Required in SA, recommended elsewhere |
| Year one per unit | $1,700 to $3,500 | More with several first aiders trained |
Ongoing, allow $300 to $600 a year per unit: pads and batteries averaged over their life, an annual check, refresher training. A campus with five AEDs is looking at roughly $8,500 to $17,500 up front and $1,500 to $3,000 a year. Against a facilities budget, that is a small line.
AEDs are depreciable business equipment under ordinary ATO rules; consumables and training are ordinary expenses. Ask your accountant. Some SA not-for-profits received AED grants through Preventive Health SA; the program's final round closed on 31 October 2025.
6. Implementation
Buying the unit is a quarter of the job.
Location. Visible, accessible, not locked away, not exposed to extreme temperatures (WorkSafe Victoria; Safe Work Australia). Position so the furthest point on the floor is within a two-minute round trip. Sites over about 1,500 square metres or on several floors usually need more than one.
Signage. Green and white AED signage at the unit and wayfinding signs from entrances and main corridors. The SA Regulations prescribe signage for mandated installations; the same approach is best practice elsewhere.
Registration. Register each unit with the state register (SA Ambulance, Ambulance Victoria, NSW Ambulance GoodSAM, and so on). It takes minutes and is free. In SA it is a legal requirement within two weeks of installation.
Training. First aiders should hold accredited training that includes AED use. The Code of Practice ratios are one first aider per 50 workers in low-risk workplaces, one per 25 in high-risk, one per 10 in remote or high-risk settings. CPR certificates are typically refreshed every 12 months, full first aid every 3 years.
Maintenance. The unit self-tests. The workplace checks the status light monthly, tracks expiry dates, and arranges an annual check where the manufacturer specifies it.
7. Is an AED required in Australian workplaces?
In South Australia, yes, for relevant buildings with 600 square metres or more of publicly accessible floor area, since 1 January 2026. Everywhere else, no statutory requirement for general workplaces, but a strong recommendation under each state's first aid Code of Practice, especially where there is electrocution risk, high public traffic or a likely ambulance delay (Safe Work Australia).
- SA: required under the AED (Public Access) Act 2022.
- All other states and territories: risk assessment under the WHS framework. WA public schools: required since 30 June 2024.
8. Frequently asked questions
Do I legally need an AED at work in Australia?
Only in South Australia, where the AED (Public Access) Act 2022 applies to relevant buildings. Elsewhere, AEDs are recommended through risk assessment under each state's first aid Code of Practice. WA public schools have been required to have one since 30 June 2024.
How many AEDs does my workplace need?
In SA commercial buildings over the threshold, one per 1,200 square metres of publicly accessible floor area. Elsewhere, enough that any point on site is within a two-minute round trip. In practice, one per floor plus one per separate building.
Where should we install them?
Somewhere visible, accessible, at room temperature, not locked, with signs pointing to it from every entrance and main corridor. Reception, near the main entrance, or beside the existing first aid station are the usual spots.
Who trains staff to use an AED?
An accredited first aid trainer delivering the nationally recognised units HLTAID009 (Provide CPR) and HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid). Courses are typically one day and cover CPR, AED use, choking, anaphylaxis and workplace first aid. LivCor does not deliver training; we supply the equipment trainers use, including AED trainers and CPR manikins.
Are workplace AEDs tax-deductible?
Yes. The AED is depreciable business equipment; pads, batteries and training are ordinary business expenses. Get specific advice from your tax agent.
Can an inspector check AED compliance?
In SA, yes; failing to install or maintain a required AED carries a maximum penalty of $20,000. Elsewhere, a WorkSafe inspector reviewing first aid arrangements can ask whether an AED was considered in the risk assessment and whether the conclusion stands up.
What is the penalty for not having one when required?
In SA, up to $20,000 for a building owner who fails to install or maintain a required AED (sections 7(2) and 9(2)). Failing to register carries up to $2,500; damaging or removing a registered AED up to $10,000 or 12 months. Outside SA there is no AED-specific penalty, but inadequate first aid provision can be a WHS breach.
How often do workplace AEDs need servicing?
An annual check, a monthly in-house look at the status light, pads every 2 to 4 years, battery every 4 to 7 years. The unit self-tests daily, weekly or monthly and alerts when something fails.
9. Next steps
- New to AEDs: start with the AED Buying Guide Australia.
- Choosing between brands: Mediana vs Philips vs HeartSine.
- Browse the AED range, including packages with alarmed cabinets, signage and pads and batteries.
- Training your first aiders: CPR Manikin Buying Guide.
For SA compliance or a multi-site rollout, email info@livcor.com.au or see our contact details.
Sources
- ANZCOR. Guideline 7: Automated External Defibrillation in Basic Life Support. https://www.anzcor.org/home/basic-life-support/guideline-7-automated-external-defibrillation-in-basic-life-support
- Bray J, Howell S, Ball S et al. The epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Australia and New Zealand: A binational report from Aus-ROC. Resuscitation, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35077857/
- Monash University / Aus-ROC. Australian regions needing cardiac arrest education revealed. https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/australian-regions-needing-cardiac-arrest-education-revealed
- Heart Foundation Australia. What is a cardiac arrest? https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/cardiac-arrest
- SA Health. AED requirements for public buildings and facilities. https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
- Government of South Australia. Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022. https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au
- Government of South Australia. Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Regulations 2024. https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au
- Legal Services Commission of SA. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). https://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch01s01s02s01.php
- Safe Work Australia. Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
- WorkSafe Victoria. Use of an AED in the workplace. https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
- WorkSafe Victoria. Compliance code: First aid in the workplace 2021. https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
- SafeWork NSW. First aid in the workplace. https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au
- WorkSafe Queensland. First aid in the workplace Code of Practice 2021. https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au
- WorkSafe Western Australia. Health and Safety Bulletin No. 11: Provision and maintenance of AEDs at workplaces. https://www.worksafe.wa.gov.au
- SafeWork SA. First aid. https://www.safework.sa.gov.au
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Reclassifying active medical devices for therapy with diagnostic functions. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/reclassifying-active-medical-devices-therapy-diagnostic-functions
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. ARTG. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg
- Ambulance Victoria. Performance 2024/25 Quarter 4. https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/latest-ambulance-response-times-0
- Capucci A, Aschieri D, Piepoli MF et al. Tripling survival from sudden cardiac arrest via early defibrillation without traditional education in CPR. Circulation, 2002. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.cir.0000028148.62305.69
- ILCOR. Optimizing outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with innovative approaches to public-access defibrillation. Circulation, 2022. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001013
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Product correction: HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P, 360P, 500P. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/recalls-and-other-market-actions/market-actions/product-correction-heartsine-samaritan-public-access-defibrillators-pad-350p-360p-500p
- LivCor product listings for the Philips HeartStart HS1 and FRx, Mediana A15, Defibtech Lifeline AUTO, Elliot and HeartSine samaritan PAD 500P, specifications and prices as at October 2026. https://shop.livcor.com.au/collections/aeds
About the author
John Haines founded LivCor (APL Group) in 1988 and has supplied defibrillators, CPR manikins and first aid equipment to Australian workplaces and training organisations for more than 35 years. Before that he spent 18 years with Ambulance Service Victoria, including 11 years as a MICA Flight Paramedic. He is the author of the Emergency First Aid and Advanced First Aid Guide series, with more than two million copies sold, conceived the HAINES recovery position in 1989, served as Deputy Chairman of the Australian Resuscitation Council (NSW Branch), and is a founding member and past President of the First Aid Industry Alliance. He holds the National Medal and a Commendation for Bravery. Connect on LinkedIn | More about John
Medical disclaimer
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute medical advice. It should not replace formal training in CPR and AED use, nor the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. In a medical emergency, call 000 immediately. LivCor strongly recommends that anyone responsible for first aid response in a workplace, community or home setting complete accredited CPR and AED training through a recognised training provider.
Commercial disclosure
LivCor is an Australian supplier of defibrillators, CPR training equipment, simulation devices and first aid supplies. The products discussed here (Philips HeartStart HS1 and FRx, Mediana A15, Defibtech Lifeline AUTO, Elliot and HeartSine samaritan PAD 500P) are sold by LivCor. LivCor is an authorised Australian dealer for Mediana AEDs. Recommendations are based on explicit criteria, published specifications and the author's experience as a paramedic and supplier; where Mediana is recommended the reason is stated and the trade-offs acknowledged. This article was written and clinically reviewed by John Haines.
Changelog
- 11 October 2026 (v2.0): Rewritten for publication. Author attribution to John Haines; recommendations aligned to LivCor's current range; FRx durability figures aligned to Philips' published data; prices updated to October 2026; case study section removed pending real examples.
- 14 May 2026 (v1.0): Initial draft.