News
- St Johns First Aid courses online – both theory & practical now online
- MHF First Aid Training – face-to-face group training now available
- Safely providing first aid during Covid-19 – Is it still safe to be a first responder? (article)
- Mental Health Course – new course now available with St Johns First Aid
- Participant Heart & Health Checks – Have you had yours? It is recommended that players over 35 years of age or returning to the game after a break should visit their GP to have a heart & health check prior to starting the season.
NSW Ambulance posters for Clubs

- Triple Zero (000) – Sport Venue Poster
- Triple Zero (000) – What you need to know Poster
- NSW Ambulance Sporting Ground Wallet Card
Emergency Response
In an emergency Dial 000.
- When to call an Ambulance
- How to perform CPR
- Responding to Cardiac Arrest
- First Aid Basics
- FIFA First Aid Manual
Injury Reporting & Forms
- Football Injury Report Form (Option 1)
- General sports Injury Report Form (Option 2)
Injury Report forms (1 & 2) can be used by clubs for recording and reporting participant injuries. A record of all injuries should be retained by clubs for insurance purposes.
- Serious Injury Report Form (To report serious injuries online to FNSW insurers)
Association Injury Reporting Systems
- Eastern Suburbs Football Association – online injury report
- Football South Coast – injury report form
Concussion
FFA Concussion Guidelines set out the guiding principles regarding the management of concussion in football in Australia. All incidents of concussion are required to be treated in accordance with the FFA Concussion Guidelines including clearance by a Medical Practitioner and adherence to the Return to Play Program.
- FFA Concussion Guidelines
- SMA Concussion Policy
- Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool
- SCAT5 Concussion Assessment tool – Adult
- SCAT5 Concussion assessment tool – Child
- Concussion causes, signs & symptoms and treatment
- FNSW Medical Conference Concussion presentation
Returning to Play after Concussion
Return to play should be in accordance with Concussion Guidelines and include:
- a clearance by a qualified Medical Practitioner before a player can return to training or playing, and
- a minimum of 6 days before a player can play a competitive game – if return to play is managed by a Medical Practitioner
- a minimum of 14 days before a player can play a competitive game – if return to play is not managed by a Medical Practitioner.
Emergency Planning, First Aid & Training
Emergency Planning
- Medical Emergency Planning
- St John Safe Accreditation for Sports Clubs
- Safe Work Australia First Aid Requirements
First Aid Training
- MHF First Aid Training Packages & Defibrillator Training
- St John First Aid Courses
- Red Cross First Aid Courses
- Sports Medicine Australia – Course dates
First Aid Kits & Contents
Injury Fact Sheets
- SMA Injury Factsheets
- Football Injury Factsheet
- Anaphylaxis & Allergy First Aid
- Asthma Management Factsheet & Asthma First Aid Chart
- Blood Rules
- Chest Pain
- Epilepsy – First Aid
- Eye Injuries
- Heatstroke – Symptoms & Treatment
- Spinal Injury
- Teeth Injuries
Club Posters
- Dial 000 Clubhouse Poster
- CPR Chart
- FIFA 11+ Warm Up poster
- NSW Ambulance Medical Emergency Plan poster
- Safe Football Poster
Other Links
- Sports Medicine Australia
- Smartplay
- NSW Ambulance Service
- Australian Sports Commission First Aid Management
- Australian Drug Foundation
Mental Health
The physical benefits of playing sport are well known. Exercise can build stronger bones and muscles, help manage your weight, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce the risks of heart disease. There are also some huge mental health benefits to participation in sport, including to improve your mood, improve your concentration, reduce stress, improve sleep habits, boost your self-confidence, social benefits, learning the value of teamwork, developing leadership skills, learning how to deal with setbacks, and to build resilience.
- The mental health benefits of playing team sport
- Mental health in professional sport
- Exercise and mental health
- Good Sports Healthy Minds program
- Supporting mental wellness
Mental Health Support
- Visit your Doctor or GP for a referral to counselling
- Head to Health
- Headspace (for young people aged 12 – 25 years)
- Child mental health services
- Find a Counsellor
Need help now?
- Kids Helpline or phone 1800 55 1800
- Beyond Blue or phone 1300 224 636
- Lifeline or phone 13 11 14
- Mensline Australia or phone 1300 789 978
- Relationships Australia 1300 364 277
Defibrillators
The defibrillator (Automated External Defibrillator or AED) has become a vital piece of equipment for football clubs and has been responsible for saving the lives of players, referees, club officials and spectators.
In cardiac arrest events, CPR commences and an AED is attached to the person’s chest to analyse the heart to determine if a shock is required to attempt to restart it. The AED determines if the person’s heart is in a “shockable rhythm” and if so, the machine delivers a shock to try and kick the heart back into a normal rhythm. When the heart is restarted, the person will commence breathing on their own.
If a person is not in a “shockable rhythm”, the machine will not provide a shock. The machine cannot be misused.
The AED provides voice instructions on how to operate it and in most models CPR feedback is provided to assist the responder in maintaining a good rate of CPR.
Included is a rescue kit with items that are required including a razor (to remove chest hair on males), gloves, face mask for CPR rescue breaths and scissors (to cut clothing).
It is important to remember that a defibrillator is always used in conjunction with CPR and DOES NOT replace a person doing CPR.
FNSW Preferred Supplier & RTO
Michael Hughes Foundation is the preferred provider of defibrillators, AED consumables, cabinets and training to Football NSW and is an approved Office of Sport provider through the Club Defibrillator Grant Program.
Defibrillator Cabinets
Alarmed (not lockable) Lockable
Factsheets & FAQs
- Cardiac Arrest and the Use of Defibrillators (NSW Health)
- What is a cardiac arrest and the chain of survival
- What is an automated external defibrillator (AED) and CPR?
- Implementing an AED program
- Frequently Asked Questions
- CPR Chart
Defibrillator Grants & Programs
- NSW Office of Sport – Club Defibrillator Grant – Apply for funding towards 50% of the cost of a defibrillator. Includes defibrillator training.
- Michael Hughes Foundation – an approved Office of Sport provider and support of football, the MHF raises awareness of the benefits of CPR and early defibrillation and has donated and supplied over 200 defibrillators to Football NSW and many clubs and associations.
- Marc Arcuri Cup & Marc Arcuri Foundation – raising heart health awareness and has donated over 50 defibrillators to football clubs.
- Heartbeat of Football – FNSW supports the increased awareness of the importance of pre-participation health checks and early defibrillation.
- Hawkesbury Heartstart Program – a program that aims to increase the number of Defibrillators in the Hawkesbury community.
- Cardiac Arrest Survival Foundation – working with clubs to raise awareness of cardiac arrest identification and early intervention.
Acknowledgements
FNSW wishes to acknowledge the NSW Office of Sport, NSW Ambulance, Sports Medicine Australia, Defib For Life, The Michael Hughes Foundation, The Marc Arcuri Foundation and Heartbeat of Football for their continued support and assistance to FNSW and our member clubs and associations.