New First Aid Units of Competency

New First Aid Units Released

On occasions, changes to training package products will occur.  When a training package is revised and is superseded by a replacement version, the new version is published, and all information can be located on the National Register (www.training.gov.au). 

Recently, a review into the First Aid units occurred which has resulted in the following new units being published on the National Register:

Skill Set:

• HLTSS00068 Occupational First Aid Skill Set (superseded HLTSS00027 - Occupational First Aid Skill Set)

Units of Competency:

• HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (superseded HLTAID001 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support (superseded HLTAID002 Provide basic emergency life support)
• HLTAID011 Provide First Aid (superseded HLTAID003 Provide First Aid)
• HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting (superseded HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting)
• HLTAID013 Provide First Aid in a remote or isolated site (superseded HLTAID005 Provide first aid in remote situations)
• HLTAID014 Provide Advanced First Aid (superseded HLTAID006 Provide advanced first aid)
• HLTAID015 Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy (superseded HLTAID007 Provide advanced resuscitation)
• HLTAID016 Manage first aid services and resources (supersedes HLTAID008 - Manage first aid services and resources).

Who conducts the review and why?

The review is conducted by a team of industry professionals and stakeholders with the aim to drive improvements in First Aid Training and ensure quality education is being delivered to all Australians. On 12 August 2020, the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) endorsed the release of new versions of eight first aid units of competency within the HLT Health Training Package (as listed above).

We have been working with our Training Partner Allens Training Pty Ltd to not only upgrade the units but we have also used this opportunity to make numerous improvements to the way we deliver the Training.

What has changed?

Although the First Aid Practices have not changed we have taken the opportunity to make the following changes to our courses:

1. New and Improved Pre-Course Work - students undertaking the training using a delivery mode that includes pre-course work will have access to a completely overhauled training experience. For the Online Training with Face to Face assessment delivery mode we have taken on feedback and the student will not see custom made video content that has been broken down into different sections. There are then multiple choice questions specifically relating to that section. This will make it easier to complete in smaller bite sized sections and mean you immediately can reinforce the learning you have completed.
2. New Assessments - to support the new units there will be completely new theory and practical assessments with all the First Aid courses. These have been updated based not only on the new units but also on feedback from our students.
3. Easier to understand course durations - When organising your training we now have two simple time brackets for our Online Training with Face to Face delivery mode. There is the shortest duration for up to 5 students and a longer duration for more than 5 students (with 20 the maximum). This will make it easier to plan your day and also can mean that training is delivered more efficiently.

What course should I complete now?

Whilst we are still within the transition period (until the 24th of September 2021) our clients will be able to select to continue to undertake the existing courses or change their bookings to the new units. Our Training Consultants will work with you to discuss the options and make sure you are completing the most appropriate courses based on your needs.

What has changed with the Advanced Units?

Following a review of the Online Training with Face to Face Assessment deliver mode for the advanced units (HLTAID013 to HLTAID016) we have moved to a greater in course education component. This means that as a student you will undertake the basic First Aid knowledge online prior to the face to face session and then cover all of the additional advanced skills within the face to face session. It was felt that this will provide a greater opportunity for hands on practice for these more advanced skills. Consequently the face to face delivery times are longer than the previous units however this just means the mix of online and face to face training has been shifted, there is not necessarily more work involved overall.

What happens if I have a certificate with the old code?

Students may complete study in a superseded product and be issued with a qualification or statement of attainment within the one-year transition period of a replacement training product from the date as stated on the National Register.

This means that RTOs are still able to deliver courses in a superseded qualification or units of competency within that 12-month period. In the case of the superseded First Aid units, these can continue to be delivered up until the end of September 2021.

Importantly, certificates issued to students for a superseded training product with an industry specified timeframe will remain valid until the expiry date of that certificate (for example, CPR and First Aid).

So, if you have only completed your First Aid recently and were issued a statement of attainment for HLTAID003 Provide First Aid, don’t worry, this is still valid for the next 3 years. However, the next First Aid course you complete will be HLTAID011 Provide First Aid.