The Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) successfully held its national Lifesavers program on Saturday 28 September 2024, across almost 20 mosques nationwide, an initiative aimed to teach essential lifesaving skills, including bystander CPR, using Automated External Defibrillators, and responding to choking incidents.

The event welcomed participants from diverse age groups—men, women, and children—who gathered to learn these vital skills to make Australia healthier and safer.

Dr Muhammad Afzal Kahloon, President of AIMA, highlighted the significance of the program, stating: “The National Lifesavers Program reflects our commitment to community service and the Islamic values of compassion and responsibility. By providing free CPR training, we are not only enhancing individual skills but also contributing to a safer and more resilient community.”

The annual AIMA Lifesavers Program has been a cornerstone of community engagement, expanding its reach to rural, regional, and metropolitan locations across Australia. This global initiative of FIMA (Federation of Islamic Medical Associations) brings together healthcare professionals to deliver essential training in mosques and Islamic centres, promoting a culture of preparedness and safety.

State Highlights

In Victoria, despite coinciding with the footy weekend, a dedicated crowd attended Al-Taqwa Mosque in Melbourne, where AIMA healthcare members led a session. Another successful event followed at Virgin Mary Mosque.

Al-Taqwa Mosque, VIC

In New South Wales, over 250 people gathered at the Australian Islamic House Masjid in Edmonson Park, Sydney. In addition to the training, attendees enjoyed healthy refreshments, activities, and face-painting for children. The event was also livestreamed to Facebook and received national coverage from SBS and Channel 10.

Sydney.

Newcastle’s three mosques—Masjid Muhammad Mustafa, Sultan Fatih Mosque, and Newcastle Mosque—hosted sessions attended by over 90 participants. An ambulance visit was arranged for children, and an Automated External Defibrillator were donated by AIMA’s Newcastle chapter to Newcastle Mosque. Wollongong’s Omar Mosque also held its first AIMA Lifesavers session, which was well received.

Newcastle

In the Australian Capital Territory, Gungahlin Mosque livestreamed their Lifesavers event to its 5,000 followers on Facebook. Attendees practiced CPR using mannequins with special provisions made for participants who couldn’t reach the ground, with a mannequin placed on a table to ensure accessibility.

Canberra

Feedback from participants highlighted the impact of the program. Attendee Imran shared, “I had a good experience and learned very good things. I think I can apply this because I now have confidence with practising here. I ask other people to join this program so they can learn and save their loved ones.”

Another attendee reflected, “It was really wonderful. This kind of demonstrations give people an understanding of what sort of immediate actions they need to take for first aid and recovery.”

One more participant remarked, “I think it’s very important to know the basics. It’s very easy, simple, and not that long to learn, and I encourage everyone to come.”

In South Australia, Maryam Masjid welcomed over 40 participants, and the event, promoted across different communities, received glowing feedback. One attendee commented on the quality of the training: “The two men at the session were really nice and polite, and explained the three main lifesaving skills well.”

Adelaide

In Queensland, AIMA Lifesavers took place in five cities. At Holland Mosque in Brisbane, women and children formed the majority of the participants.

Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast’s event, held at the Millwell Road Community Centre, concluded on time with great feedback from the local community. Townsville Mosque welcomed an energetic cohort of young people, while Mackay’s Islamic Society held a later session on Saturday 5 October with a packed room of 60 adults and 30 children. Southport Mosque on the Gold Coast and Rockhampton also hosted successful sessions.

Mackay

AIMA Lifesavers in Townsville received glowing feedback from attendees, particularly parents who appreciated the thoughtful approach to teaching.

Townsville

One attendee shared, “Thank you to everyone who was involved with tonight’s Lifesavers presentation. My kids and I really enjoyed it and felt very comfortable with how we all got separated into individual groups, with a sister teaching us and allowing us time to have a go at it as well. The sister that was with our group was so helpful, thorough, patient, and kind while it was our turn to demonstrate. We will definitely be attending each time this event is on. This was our second year attending and we’ve learned something new each time. Very beneficial.”

At the AIMA Lifesavers event in the Sunshine Coast, even the younger participants were deeply engaged. Mahirah, an 11-year-old attendee, shared her excitement, saying, “This event was like no other. It was interactive, engaging, and it was even funny. These lessons are suitable for any age. Thanks to this, I have not only memorised DRS ABC (and DEF) but also how to do CPR properly and what to do if someone is choking. Thank you, AIMA.”

In Western Australia, Bunbury Mosque held an enthusiastic event, with children eagerly practising CPR on mannequins. A defibrillator, fundraised by AIMA WA, was donated to the mosque, and attendees enjoyed healthy refreshments, including fruit platters, crackers, and hummus.

Bunbury

In Tasmania, Launceston Mosque held its first-ever Lifesavers session, where attendees attentively followed the information slides. Burnie Mosque hosted their first AIMA Lifesavers event two weeks earlier.

In the Northern Territory, Darwin held its Lifesavers event on Sunday 6 October, attracting men, women, and children at the Islamic Society of Darwin.

Darwin

AIMA Lifesavers was an overwhelming success, with attendance certificates awarded to all participants, including a new exciting children-specific certificate which named them a CPR star. AIMA extends its gratitude to the organisers, volunteers, and masjid committees across the country who made this national initiative possible.

Next on AIMA’s agenda is the National Blood Donation Drive campaign, set for Friday 29 November 2024 in mosques around Australia. In collaboration with Australian Red Cross LifeBlood, the campaign encourages the Muslim community to register and donate blood to save lives. For more information, visit https://aima.org.au/giveblood/.