First Aid Requirements for Childcare Workers in the ACT

Working in childcare, family day care, outside school hours care (OSHC), or any approved education and care service in the ACT? You — or at least one person on your team — must hold a specific first aid qualification that goes beyond a standard first aid certificate. Here's what the law requires and how to comply.

What Does the Law Require?

Under the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations, all approved education and care services must ensure that at least one educator present at all times holds a current approved first aid qualification. That qualification must also include approved training in:

• ·Anaphylaxis management
• ·Emergency asthma management

The qualification that satisfies all of these requirements in a single course is HLTAID012 — Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting.

Who Specifically Needs HLTAID012?

While the regulation requires at least one person per service, in practice most childcare employers in the ACT require all educators and staff to hold current HLTAID012 (or equivalent). You will typically need it if you work in:

• ·Long day care centres
• ·Family day care
• ·Outside school hours care (OSHC / OOSH)
• ·Kindergarten and preschool programs
• ·Occasional care services
• ·Mobile childcare services

Check your service's policy and your employment contract — many ACT providers require all educators (not just one) to maintain current HLTAID012.

What Does HLTAID012 Cover?

HLTAID012 is a comprehensive qualification that includes four unit codes:

• ·HLTAID012 – Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting
• ·HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid
• ·HLTAID010 – Provide Basic Emergency Life Support
• ·HLTAID009 – Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

On top of everything covered in the standard First Aid certificate, HLTAID012 adds paediatric-specific content including:

• ·CPR on infants, children and adults
• ·Febrile convulsions (febrile seizures)
• ·Child-specific choking management
• ·Anaphylaxis recognition and auto-injector use in children
• ·Emergency asthma management in children
• ·Educator obligations and documentation requirements under the National Quality Standard

How Long Is HLTAID012 Valid?

The full HLTAID012 qualification is recommended for renewal every 3 years. However, the CPR component (HLTAID009) must be renewed annually. Most childcare services require staff to:

• ·Complete HLTAID009 (CPR) every 12 months
• ·Complete the full HLTAID012 renewal every 3 years

Getting Certified in Canberra

Our Canberra venue at Phillip runs HLTAID012 sessions every Saturday, starting at 8:30am. The in-person session takes approximately 3.5 hours. You'll need to complete an online pre-learning module before attending, and bring your USI (Unique Student Identifier).

Your Statement of Attainment is issued on the day. The course is $115— and if you find it cheaper elsewhere from a nationally recognised RTO, we'll match the price.