What happens in a CPR training course?

What to bring, what you practise and what you get from HLTAID009 CPR training in Sydney, plus how to ask about CPR Melbourne dates.

Written byEdway

A worker kneeling on a warehouse floor giving chest compressions while a colleague calls an ambulance

The short answer

Learning CPR is truly life-saving knowledge. A CPR course is a short, hands-on class where you learn and practise cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a manikin. The course is HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It takes about 3 hours in a classroom, after a short online module. Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411) delivers and issues the CPR training course in Sydney and Melbourne.

You never know when an emergency can occur. A friend, a workmate or a complete stranger could collapse in front of you. CPR certification gives you the skills and the confidence to step in and help.

Before you book

Three things to know before you book CPR training.

Bring ID and your USI. You need one photo ID and your Unique Student Identifier (USI) to enrol.
You will kneel on the floor. To pass, you must do 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on a manikin on the floor. If you have an injury or condition that makes this hard, contact the issuing RTO before you book.
Complete the online module first. There is a compulsory online module to finish before your classroom session. You also need enough English to follow the course.

That is how to get CPR certified: enrol, finish the online module, then show your skills in class.

What you practise

Understanding the theory behind CPR is important, but being able to perform it in a real-life situation is what counts. That is why the course is practical. In class, you practise:

recognising when a person is unconscious
giving CPR to current Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines
placing a person in the recovery position
responding to a blocked airway
protecting yourself and lowering the risk of infection while you help

Most of the time is spent on the floor with a manikin, so wear comfortable clothes.

You also practise with a training defibrillator (AED), following its voice prompts to deliver a shock on the manikin. This is part of the unit's assessment, so every CPR course includes it.

Your trainer is there to help. If there are steps that are unclear to you, ask the trainer so they can address it right away. This way, you will be confident when the time comes that you need to perform CPR.

Four CPR myths

Most people like to think they know a little about CPR. Here are four myths to leave behind.

"A CPR course is the same as first aid." The CPR course covers CPR only. The first aid course adds bleeding, burns, fractures, choking, asthma, anaphylaxis and more, and it includes the CPR unit.
"A CPR course online gives the same certificate." A separate non-accredited online CPR course does not give you the HLTAID009 Statement of Attainment. This course needs you to show your CPR in person. The best way to learn CPR is still a course where you physically practise on a manikin.
"Once you learn CPR, you are covered for life." Most workplaces ask you to refresh CPR every 12 months. A CPR refresher course keeps your skills sharp.
"Helping is only about the casualty." The course also teaches you to protect yourself and lower the risk of infection while you give CPR.

How long it takes and what you receive

The classroom session is 3 hours including breaks. You also complete the compulsory online module before class.

When you pass, you receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment for HLTAID009. It is treated as current for 12 months, and most workplaces ask for a yearly refresh. For how this fits with first aid, read how long a first aid certificate lasts.

The price is on the course page. You can check the CPR course cost and book your seat in the same place.

CPR training Melbourne and Sydney

You can find and book CPR training through Edway. Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411) delivers and issues the course.

Sydney: classroom sessions run at Darlinghurst, Seven Hills and Mona Vale. Dates are shown on the course page. It is a simple way to get your CPR certification in Sydney.
CPR Melbourne: the course is offered by enquiry. Send an enquiry from the course page to ask about dates for your CPR certification in Melbourne.

The CPR course suits workers who need a yearly CPR update, parents and carers, fitness and aquatic staff, and anyone who wants to be ready to help. If you are planning a hiking trip or time outdoors, CPR is a useful skill to have. A hiking trip needs a few essentials like water and comfortable shoes, and CPR training is one more. It is knowledge you can use long after the trip. If you want to learn more than CPR, compare the options in which first aid course you need.

Next step

Taking a CPR course will equip you with life-saving skills that could one day help you save a life. Check Sydney dates or send a Melbourne enquiry on the CPR course page.

Sources

Edway knowledge base — courses/cpr/index.mdWhat the course covers, duration, what to bring, who it is for
Edway knowledge base — courses/cpr/offerings.yamlSydney and Melbourne delivery and issuing RTO
Edway knowledge base — courses/cpr/recognition.md and faq.yaml12-month currency, Statement of Attainment, the non-accredited online course difference
Edway knowledge base — courses/first-aid/index.mdWhat the full first aid course adds beyond CPR