Which first aid course do you need?
First Aid, CPR, Childcare or an advanced first aid course? Compare each, from CPR training Sydney to advanced first aid Melbourne.
Written byEdway
The short answer
Choose First Aid when a workplace asks for the usual first aid certificate. Choose CPR when only your annual CPR is due. Choose Childcare First Aid for an education or care setting.
Choose Advanced First Aid when you may need to lead a more complex response. Whichever you pick, you walk away with skills that can save a life at work, at home or out in the community.
Compare the 4 courses, up to an advanced first aid certificate
| Course | Unit | Choose it when | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Aid | HLTAID011 | A workplace asks for standard first aid | First aid, basic emergency life support and CPR |
| CPR | HLTAID009 | Only CPR needs refreshing | CPR only |
| Childcare First Aid | HLTAID012 | You work in education or care | Child and adult first aid, asthma, anaphylaxis and CPR |
| Advanced First Aid | HLTAID014 | You may lead a complex response | Advanced and standard first aid, plus CPR |
Got a unit code from your employer? Book the course with that code and you are sorted.
The usual workplace first aid training course
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is what most workplaces mean by "a first aid certificate". It covers responding to an emergency, CPR and common injuries and illnesses until medical help arrives.
It includes HLTAID009 CPR, so you do not need to book a separate CPR course on the same day. It is a strong addition to any CV. Employers value staff who can step in calmly when someone is hurt, and it makes you the person your team can count on.
What does a workplace first aid officer do?
A workplace first aid officer is the person who steps in when someone is hurt or falls ill at work. They respond to the emergency, give first aid and CPR until medical help arrives, and pass on the incident details afterwards.
The First Aid course trains you for that role. It is the certificate most workplaces mean when they ask for a first aider.
Which occupations benefit from a first aid course?
Plenty of them. First aid training suits workplace first aiders, teachers, carers, trades, hospitality, fitness and retail staff.
If you work with children, Childcare First Aid is the one built for you. For everyone else, the standard first aid course covers what a workplace usually asks for, and it is just as useful at home and in your community.
CPR training is the yearly refresh
HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is the shorter course for CPR only. Choose it when your full first aid is current and your workplace wants CPR refreshed. It is a quick way to keep your skills sharp and your record up to date.
How does CPR training help your workplace?
It puts people on the team who know what to do. CPR training teaches you to recognise an unconscious casualty, perform CPR, use the recovery position and respond to airway obstruction.
When more of your team keep their CPR current, more people are ready to help. CPR classes run in Sydney, and it is the shorter course, so the refresh is easy to fit in.
Childcare First Aid adds care needs
HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting is for educators and support staff. It includes first aid for infants and children, asthma, anaphylaxis and CPR.
It is the ACECQA-approved qualification for education and care services. A standard HLTAID011 certificate does not cover the education-and-care requirement on its own. If you work in education and care, this is the course that has you covered.
Advanced first aid training leads the response
HLTAID014 Provide Advanced First Aid is for someone who may lead a complex or extended response. It also covers directing other first aiders, so it suits people who want to take charge when it matters.
It includes the standard first aid and CPR units. You do not need to hold HLTAID011 before enrolling, although prior experience can help. It is a great next step if you are already the go-to first aider at work.
What are the benefits of an advanced first aid course?
You learn to lead. An advanced first aid course trains you to take charge of a complex or extended response and to direct other first aiders on the scene.
You also get the standard first aid and CPR units in the same course, so one booking covers the lot. If people at work already come to you when someone gets hurt, this is the skill set that backs you up.
Can an advanced first aid certificate help your career?
Yes. Employers value staff who can step in calmly when someone is hurt, and an advanced first aid certificate shows you can do more. It shows you can lead the response and direct other first aiders.
It is a strong addition to your CV and marks you as the person your team counts on when it matters.
Keep the training current
Statements of Attainment do not expire. Workplaces usually treat first aid as current for 3 years and CPR for 12 months.
The guide How long does a first aid certificate last? explains the difference.
Check that it is accredited
Edway also lists a non-accredited online first aid product. It gives you a Certificate of Completion, not HLTAID011. When an employer or regulator asks for a nationally recognised unit code, choose one of the accredited courses above.
All 4 accredited courses are delivered and issued by Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411).
Next step: a first aid CPR course Sydney or Melbourne
If no unit code was supplied, start with First Aid. Use CPR for a CPR-only refresh, or choose Childcare First Aid for an education or care role. Book your spot and get the skills that make a real difference.
Sources
- training.gov.au — HLTAID011, HLTAID009, HLTAID012 and HLTAID014Unit codes, official titles and superseded codes
- ACECQA — approved first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma trainingHLTAID012 being on the approved-qualifications register for education and care services (Education and Care Services National Regulations, regulation 136)
- Safe Work Australia — Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplaceWorkplace first aid requirements sitting under work health and safety law
