St John has officially launched the Pocket AED, unveiling Australia’s Smallest Big Thing in Sydney’s Martin Place, on 14th July 2026.
The milestone launch introduced one of Australia’s most innovative and smallest automated external defibrillators (AEDs), designed to make life-saving technology more portable and accessible than ever before. About the size of a soft drink can and weighing less than 700 grams, the Pocket AED is the first compact AED in the St John range.
It’s small enough to fit in a backpack, bag, glove box or jacket pocket.
It’s designed to help bring life-saving support wherever Australians work, play, and explore.
The launch event featured the big reveal – a large-scale installation that highlighted the device’s remarkable compact size. It brought together media, stakeholders and partners, and lots of curious eyes of the public, to celebrate this exciting and important milestone. The campaign, Australia’s Smallest Big Thing, celebrates the idea that even the smallest things can have an extraordinary impact.
The launch was also supported by the inspiring story of New South Wales colleagues Wayne “Mud” and Dave. When Dave experienced a sudden cardiac arrest at work, Wayne’s CPR training and access to a St John AED helped save his life. Their story is a powerful reminder that having an AED nearby, together with someone willing to act, can make all the difference.
Making life-saving support more portable
Each year, over 30,000 Australian will experience an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Research shows chances of survival decrease by approximately 10 per cent every minute without defibrillation, yet only around two per cent of cardiac arrests are reached by a publicly accessible AED.
One of the biggest barriers to early defibrillation is simply the distance. The Pocket AED has been developed to help overcome that challenge by making it easier to keep an AED close by, wherever you may be; at work, travelling, playing sport, or spending time with loved ones.
Built for Australian conditions
Compact doesn’t mean compromised. The Pocket AED has been built to perform wherever it’s needed.
Key features include:
- About the size of a soft drink can
- Weighs less than 700 grams
- One-touch power on
- Smart voice guidance
- Smart pads suitable for adults and children
- CPR guidance with integrated metronome
- Delivers defibrillation in under eight seconds
- Drop tested to 1.5 meters
- Water and dust resistance
- Automatic weekly self-testing
- Bluetooth, 4G mobile communication and geo-location capability with paid subscription
- Quick access pull strap for rapid pad deployment
- Five-year manufacturer's warranty
Backed by more than 140 years of experience
For over 140 years, St John has helped Australians prepare for emergencies through trusted first aid training, products and community services.
The Pocket AED is the newest addition to the St John AED range, joining the trusted G5, X1 and X3 models and giving Australians another option to keep life-saving support close at hand.
With ongoing support, included eLearning and trusted expertise behind every device, the Pocket AED reflects St John’s commitment to helping more Australians feel prepared to act.
Because when every second counts, help is already here with the St John Pocket AED.
