NSW Government Funds Sports Clubs’ Facilitation of AEDs

The NSW Government have announced a $500,000 investment towards state sports to encourage clubs and centres to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at their facilities, at an event a day before World Heart Day.

The Heartbeat of Football Foundation, who attended, have also received a $150,000 grant by the government to conduct research into which NSW sports clubs and centres who may lack AEDs in hopes it will provide insight and guidance for future government investments.

The foundation will also use the grant for their #HeartHealthMatters program, which delivers AED and CPR training to sporting clubs across regional NSW, while eligible sports groups can apply for the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program with up to $3,000 for buying AEDs.

Heartbeat of Football Foundation Founder, Andy Paschalidies congratulated Sports Minister Steve Kamper and the NSW Government for their continued support of the #HeartHealthMatters program.

“It has already proven to be a lifesaver, and our foundation will continue to push for all sporting grounds in NSW, and indeed across Australia, to be equipped with lifesaving and publicly accessible AEDs,” she said via press release.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper spoke about how important for sporting organisations to be able to respond to life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest on the sporting field, by using AEDs.

“Last year, the Minns Labor Government supported more than 190 sporting organisations to purchase this potentially life-saving equipment,” he said via press release.

“Heartbeat of Football’s mapping project will play a vital role in enabling the Minns Labor Government to plan future targeted investment at sport facilities that need it most.

Doyalson Wyee Football Club player and NSW’s oldest on-field cardiac arrest survivor Allen Lyell, 70, also attended the event, and remarked he had no symptoms of any heart issues, and the doctor told him he was fit.

“I was fortunate that there was a defibrillator at the ground and people knew what to do, so I became one of the lucky ones,” he said via press release.

More than 2,300 defibrillators and AEDs have been funded for use at sports and recreation facilities across NSW since the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant program started, with applications still open from the 1st of December or when funding is exhausted.

Heartbeat of Football Foundation

The Heartbeat of Football Foundation is a non-for-profit organisation who aim to have zero-deaths related to heart health on Australian sportsgrounds, and have worked with state soccer bodies around the country including Football Victoria to run charities and other events.

In 2023, both groups partnered to spread awareness of heart health with Football Victoria promoting awareness and education for players, coaches and clubs, prevention through screening checks, and for clubs to have functional AEDs at every sportsground.

The Victorian Government last year has a similar program called the Sporting Club Grants Program, which allowed sporing clubs to receive $1000 for the purchase of medical supplies like AEDs.

Currently, the Victorian Government has the Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant Program, aimed at replacing damaged and used sporting equipment, including defibrillators.

For further information, including eligibility criteria for NSW sports and recreation organisations, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/localsport-defibrillator-grant-program.

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Clublinks Named Venue Operator for New Sports Centre

Venue manager company, Clublinks have been appointed by the Sport and Recreation Victoria as the venue operator of the new Bundha Sports Centre, an indoor sports centre in the heart of Melbourne’s inner north.

The new sports centre will officially open in early 2026, with four competition standard basketball, netball, and volleyball courts, a multi-purpose futsal court, a large gymnasium, cafe and lounge area and other community spaces.

Clublinks will operate the centre in the iconic Fitzroy Gasworks precinct in a long-term agreement, utilising their expertise in maintenance and asset renewal programs as part of the centre’s operation.

Clublinks CEO, Anthony Lawrence stated they are delighted to be given the opportunity to deliver brilliant customer experiences that align with the quality of the Bundha Sports Centre.

‘We are excited to facilitate opportunities for the community to participate in sport, recreation and fitness at this beautiful facility,” he said via press release.

“While Bundha is primarily a sports centre, it will deliver wonderful connection, unity and community benefit to Melbourne’s inner north.”

Construction of the Bundha Sports Centre was announced last year, Development Victoria released a statement reading the $54.5 million project would be delivered by a range of local and businesses and suppliers.

Additionally, the Victorian Government invested $49.5 million into the centre, complemented by a $5 million contribution from Yarra City Council.

In this partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria, Clublinks will also reinvest a portion of the centre’s profits to enable access for a range of programs and initiatives promoted towards community members’ participation in centre activities.

Clublinks are also conducting an Expression of Interest process for local sports and associations looking to join the centre once it opens early next year.

It is hoped Clublinks’ new role in the Bundha Sports Centre will allow more people in the inner west to experience the benefits of the facility to grow their teams, programs and competitions once it formally opens.

Clublinks have a reputation in venue management capability in Victoria, currently operating the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre and Narrandjeri Stadium in Darebin as well as other sports venues across Australia.

How Musco Lighting is Transforming the Game

Lighting quality, uniformity, and control are three of the most important elements a football venue must master. Done well, they elevate the standard of play, enhance the fan experience, and ensure world-class broadcasts. 

Modern football demands more than just traditional floodlights. From community fields to elite stadiums, facilities need solutions that combine performance, efficiency, and reliability.

Musco Lighting believes their systems, which are engineered LED technologies, modular mini-pitch packages, and advanced control platforms are the key to achieving these goals.

Musco’s “Projects Made Simple” approach offers complete, tailored lighting solutions designed for every level of the game. Central to this is Total Light Control for LED, a system that provides precise light distribution while reducing glare and minimising environmental spill.

Complementing Total Light Control for LED is Musco’s Mini-Pitch System, developed in the U.S. Soccer Foundation. These compact, all-in-one facilities combine fencing, goals, benches, storage, and integrated lighting, transforming underused spaces into safe, vibrant football environments.

Features of Musco’s lighting include; uniform illumination across the pitch, therefore eliminating dark zones; advanced glare reduction, which ensures comfort for players, spectators and surrounding areas of the pitch; and smart monitoring, which allows operators to remotely control and schedule the lighting. The lighting company also uses sustainable practices with the ability to have energy savings of up to 60%. 

Musco’s systems have already been used by some of the biggest names in football.

At Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC, the installation of Musco’s SportsCluster Green LED system has been transformative according to Arsenal’s Stadium and Facilities Director, John Beattie.

“It is important for both players and fans alike that we have top-quality lighting for the club’s evening fixtures and Musco’s new floodlights provide just that.” he said. 

AFC Bournemouth faced the challenge of upgrading their facilities following promotion to the Premier League in 2015 but Club General Manager Liz Finney said the company’s product was crucial.

“We needed to install a new pitch lighting system to meet the requirements of both the club and the Premier League in a fairly short space of time. Musco delivered on all counts.” Finney said. 

Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Audi Field in Washington D.C. have reported improved player visibility, enhanced broadcast quality, and major energy savings following their adoption of Musco’s technology.

Australia’s football landscape presents unique challenges. Facilities often serve multiple sports, grassroots participation is rapidly expanding, and professional leagues increasingly demand higher broadcast standards.

Musco’s systems offer important benefits to help with this development, these include mini-pitch installations, which could expand access to safe well lit spaces in urban areas, which would help to support grassroots growth.

Another benefit could be that elite stadiums could meet higher broadcast standards to match international scale games. Finally, using Musco would create energy savings and have a reduced environmental aspect.

Musco’s football lighting solutions are much more than a technical upgrade, they also represent a shift in how football is played, viewed, and experienced. By pairing innovation with reliability, they support the game from grassroots fields to international arenas.

As Australia looks to strengthen its football infrastructure, Musco’s proven effective technology could help bridge the gap between community play and world-class competition.

Overall, the use of Musco Lighting systems could greatly improve football in Australia, whether you are playing or watching the game.

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