Owen Toyota’s Dean Owen and Brittany Clapham alongside Linking Communities’ Kirrilly Salvestro, and Sarah Taranto. Photo: Supplied.
Owen Toyota has donated an automated external defibrillator [AED] to the Griffith Women’s Refuge, which provides shelter and support to the homeless and victims of domestic violence.
The defibrillator is a portable medical device designed to analyse the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to those in cardiac arrest to restore a normal heart rhythm.
The car dealership also donated complimentary first aid training for a member of their organisation through St John Ambulance NSW.
“International Women’s Day was our inspiration for selecting the Griffith Women’s Refuge as the beneficiary of our local AED project,” Owen Toyota marketing manager Sarah Taranto said.
“It seems that this organisation chooses to fly under the radar as a security precaution to the women who are seeking refuge, so this organisation is often left behind in the community. We think having an AED defibrillator on-site is an element that could bring residents just that little bit more sense of safety.”
The refuge provides supported accommodation to women 18 years and older, with or without children. It assists those women who are escaping domestic violence, or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Services include outreach and intervention, an early childhood intervention program and court advocacy. It is part of the Linking Communities Network, which provides a broader range of support to men, women and children.
Owen Toyota has also recently invested in a defibrillator on-site for their 96 Mackay Avenue location to ensure that they’re prepared for any emergency.
Sarah Taranto is an award-winning marketing executive. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
“Your wellbeing matters to us, and we’re committed to creating a safe environment for all our customers and team members,” co-owner Dean Owen said.
The defibrillator can be found in the common showroom area. Staff members Joel Trenerry, Brendon Sinclair, Kevin Guglielmino and Sarah Taranto are qualified first aid certificate holders.
“In an emergency, you can trust that we have the skills and tools to respond quickly and effectively,” Ms Taranto said.
National Heart Foundation statistics reveal almost 70 Australians have a cardiac arrest each day. This is a sharp increase from the 55 daily cases across Australia in 2023.
“This is a powerful reminder of the importance of being prepared and having lifesaving tools like defibrillators on hand. The alarming rise reminds us how crucial it is to be prepared with lifesaving tools like defibrillators,” Ms Taranto said.
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