ANU Campus Automated External Defibrillator Locations: Map, How to Use an AED, and First Aid Training Sign-Up

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The Australian National University (ANU) has deployed more than 50 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across its main Acton campus, covering all major teaching buildings, libraries, residential halls, and sports facilities. According to the Heart Foundation (2023), survival rates fall by 7–10% for every minute defibrillation is delayed after a cardiac arrest, and an AED can lift the survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to above 70%. This article brings together the ANU campus AED map locations, device operating procedures, sign-up channels for on-campus First Responder training, and the relevant safety policies, for the reference of current staff, students, and visitors.

AED Locations and How to Get the Map

ANU Security maintains a real-time campus AED map on its official website, covering the Acton main campus, the Kioloa coastal campus, and the Siding Spring Observatory site. The map records the specific building and floor coordinates of every AED and uses colour coding to distinguish devices accessible 24 hours a day from those accessible only during working hours.

Key Deployment Areas on the Main Campus

The ANU Union Building (Kambri precinct) houses 3 AEDs: one in the ground-floor dining area, one at the entrance to the second-floor student services centre, and one in the basement car park lift lobby. Chifley Library and Hancock Library each have 1 unit, both beside the ground-floor service desks. The Marie Reay Teaching Centre has 1 unit at each end of the corridor on every floor — 6 in total — making it the teaching facility with the highest AED density of any single building on campus.

Residential Halls and Sports Facilities

Major residential colleges including Bruce Hall, Ursula College and Wright Hall have AEDs mounted on the walls of their common lounges or manager’s offices. The ANU Sport and Recreation Centre (Acton campus) has 1 unit at the pool entrance and 1 on the internal wall of the basketball hall, with a further backup unit at the University House front desk. Security recommends checking device status in real time via the mobile-friendly ANU Security AED Map.

AED Operating Procedure and Key Steps

Under the Australian Resuscitation Council (2021 guidelines), untrained bystanders can safely use an AED, because the device’s built-in voice prompts guide the operator through the process automatically.

Starting the Device and Attaching the Pads

Opening the AED lid or pressing the power button starts the voice instructions automatically. The user must fully expose the patient’s chest, peel off the backing of the electrode pads, and place one pad below the patient’s right collarbone and the other on the left side of the chest at the fifth intercostal space on the mid-axillary line, following the diagrams. The AED analyses the heart rhythm automatically, and during analysis nobody may touch the patient.

Shock Delivery and Transition to CPR

If the AED detects a shockable rhythm (ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia), it announces ‘shock advised’ and charges automatically. The operator must confirm that nobody is touching the patient, then press the orange shock button. After the shock, the AED prompts an immediate start of chest compressions — 5–6 cm deep at a rate of 100–120 per minute. The device automatically repeats its analysis every 2 minutes until professional paramedics take over.

First Responder Training and Registration

ANU offers free First Responder training courses through the ANU Safety and Wellbeing team, open to all staff and students. Course content covers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), AED use, and the Heimlich manoeuvre.

Course Types and Frequency

The standard First Responder course runs for 4 hours and includes a theory assessment and practical drills; on completion, participants receive a Statement of Attainment accredited by the Australian Resuscitation Council. The course runs 2–3 times a month in Kambri Training Room 1.02, capped at 20 participants per session. The advanced course (8 hours) additionally covers trauma first aid, allergic reaction management, and auto-injector use, and runs once per quarter.

Registration Channels and Requirements

Staff and students can register directly by searching ‘First Responder Training’ in the ANU Horizon system. No medical background is required, but participants are advised to have basic English listening and speaking skills to understand the voice prompts. The course is free; cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance, otherwise the absence is recorded on your personal training record. For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to settle their currency transfers.

Equipment Maintenance and Inspection Regime

ANU Security and the on-campus property team (ANU Facilities and Services) jointly run a monthly AED inspection regime to make sure every device is ready for use.

Inspection Content and Frequency

On the first working day of each month, designated inspectors carry out three checks on every AED: electrode pad expiry, battery charge, and device casing integrity. Electrode pads last 24–36 months and batteries typically 4–5 years. Results are recorded in the ANU Safety Hub system, and expired consumables are purchased and replaced centrally by the security department.

Fault Reporting and Temporary Alternatives

If a device’s indicator lights show a fault (such as a red flashing light or silence), the inspector must raise a maintenance work order within 2 business days. While the device is being repaired, security posts a map of the nearest alternative AED in the original location and temporarily adds a mobile AED to the building’s front desk. Across 2023, the ANU campus AED fault rate was below 1.2% (ANU Safety Annual Report, 2023).

Relevant Regulations and Policy Basis

ANU’s AED deployment and training system follows Australian Standard AS/NZS 4083:2010, Guide to the configuration of automated external defibrillators, and the ACT Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

National and Territory Requirements

AS/NZS 4083:2010 requires places where people gather in large numbers (such as university campuses) to ensure at least one accessible AED within every 100 metres’ walking radius. The ACT Act requires employers (including ANU) to provide first aid equipment and training as far as is reasonably practicable. ANU’s internal policy Emergency Management Procedure (document number EMP-2021-04) further specifies that all new or refurbished buildings must reserve an AED mounting position and power outlet.

The ACT Civil Law (Emergency Assistance) Amendment Act 2022 exempts bystanders who use an AED or provide first aid in good faith from civil liability, unless the conduct amounts to gross negligence. ANU’s internal policies likewise commit to providing legal support and insurance cover for staff and students who act in line with training guidelines.

Emergency Response Procedures

ANU operates a tiered emergency response mechanism on campus to ensure AEDs connect smoothly with professional ambulance services.

On-Campus Notification and Dispatch

When a cardiac arrest is witnessed, the first bystander should immediately call the ANU Security emergency hotline (02 6125 2249) and also summon the on-campus First Responder Team. The security centre dispatches the nearest certified First Responder with an AED by radio and simultaneously notifies the ACT Ambulance Service. ANU Security’s average response time is 3 minutes 12 seconds (Q4 2023 data).

Integration with the Pre-Hospital Emergency System

When ACT Ambulance receives the call, its dispatchers provide phone guidance to people on scene on using the AED and dispatch an advanced life support team within 8–12 minutes. ANU has a joint response agreement with ACT Ambulance, ensuring all campus AED locations are entered into the ACT emergency medical dispatch system so ambulances can navigate to the nearest entrance as a priority.

FAQ

Q1: Are all AEDs on the ANU campus available 24 hours a day?

About 80% of AEDs (42 units) are located in areas open 24 hours, including teaching building foyers, residential common areas, and the entrances of 24-hour libraries. The remaining 20% sit inside teaching buildings open only during working hours (Monday to Friday 7:00–18:00). The ANU Security map clearly marks the availability hours of every device.

Q2: Can I use an AED without first aid training?

Yes. The Australian Resuscitation Council states clearly that untrained bystanders can operate an AED safely with voice prompts. All ANU AEDs have bilingual voice guidance in Chinese and English. However, students are encouraged to attend the free 4-hour training at least once, which raises the practical pass rate to above 95%.

Q3: Does ANU First Responder training cost anything?

No. All courses are completely free for current ANU students and staff. Each session is capped at 20 participants; 42 sessions ran in 2023 with an average registration rate of 92%. We recommend registering early through the ANU Horizon system in the first week of semester.

References

  • Heart Foundation 2023, Cardiac Arrest and AED Use Guide
  • Australian Resuscitation Council 2021, ANZCOR Guideline 7.1: Automated External Defibrillation
  • Standards Australia 2010, AS/NZS 4083:2010 Guide to the Configuration of Automated External Defibrillators
  • ANU Safety and Wellbeing 2023, ANU Safety Annual Report
  • UNILINK Education 2024, Australia University Campus Safety Facilities Database