The program is a partnership between Westfund and the Defibshop, which is designed to save lives by increasing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of defibrillators within the community.

The Here for Hearts Schools Program started in August 2016 and since then has distributed six defibrillators to schools in regional NSW and Queensland.

The program aims to subsidise Automated External Defibrillator (AED) purchases for schools across care centre areas.

Wallerawang Public School were the lucky recipients of a AED which was received by school principal Janine Macky at an assembly earlier this month.

On hand to make the presentation were the Defibshop’s Carpet Hughes and Westfund representatives Chris Phillips, Lauren Thompson and Laura Pillans.

Hampton Public School also received an AED via the program in 2016, when Wallerawang first applied. 

The school then approached Westfund and Carpet Hughes from the Defibshop again in December following the tragic loss of a mother of one of the students. 

The school received the device in February to help help ensure the safety of the children, parents and the Wallerawang community.

“Westfund Health Insurance, in collaboration with the Defibshop, are thrilled to present this AED to Wallerawang Public School. 

“This life saving device will provide peace of mind to the entire school community,” Westfund’s Executive Manager Operations Chris Phillips said. 

The first round of Westfund’s Here for Hearts Schools Program is still open.

For further information on the Here for Hearts Schools Program, or to fill out an application, head to the Westfund website www.westfund.com.au.

The open and closing dates for the 2017 program are: