Which First Aid Course Is Right for Your Family?

Families come to first aid training for different reasons. Some are expecting a first baby, some are grandparents about to start regular childcare, and some have had a scare and never want to feel that helpless again. The right course depends a little on which of those you are.

The three units

• HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. About ninety minutes. CPR for adults, children and infants, plus choking and defibrillator use.
• HLTAID011 Provide First Aid. About three hours. Contains the CPR unit and adds bleeding, burns, fractures, asthma, anaphylaxis, poisoning, bites and stings.
• HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting. About three and a half hours. Contains everything above and adds paediatric content including febrile convulsions and child specific asthma and anaphylaxis management.

New and expecting parents

HLTAID012 is usually the best fit, because the paediatric content is the part you will actually use. Infant CPR, choking response for a baby and febrile convulsions are all covered in more depth than in the general first aid unit. Many couples book the same session and attend together.

Grandparents and regular carers

If you last did a course decades ago, be aware that the guidance has changed considerably. Rescue breathing ratios, the removal of abdominal thrusts from Australian choking management and the widespread availability of public defibrillators are all relatively recent. HLTAID011 or HLTAID012 will bring you up to date.

Families who want the essentials only

If time or budget is the constraint, the ninety minute CPR unit covers the situations where minutes decide the outcome. It is far better than no training, and you can always add the full certificate later.

How it works

Each course has a short online theory component you complete beforehand and one practical session in person. Assessment happens on the day and certificates are issued the same day. You will need a free Unique Student Identifier, which takes a few minutes to create online.

Compare dates and locations, or read our FAQ if you are still deciding.