First Aid Requirements for Aged Care Workers

Working in residential aged care, home care, or a community care setting in the ACT? First aid training is a core expectation for direct care workers — and in many services, a condition of employment. Here's what you need to know.

What the Aged Care Quality Standards Require

The Aged Care Quality Standards — regulated by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — require approved providers to ensure their workforce has the skills, qualifications and knowledge to provide safe, quality care. This includes first aid competency for workers who provide direct care.

While the Standards don't specify a single unit code, HLTAID011 — Provide First Aid is the nationally recognised certificate that satisfies this requirement in virtually all aged care settings. It covers the emergencies most likely to occur in aged care: cardiac arrest, stroke, falls, choking, diabetic emergencies, and more.

Who Typically Needs First Aid in Aged Care?

• ·Personal care assistants and support workers
• ·Enrolled and registered nurses (in addition to their clinical training)
• ·Activities and lifestyle officers
• ·Allied health assistants
• ·Facility managers and team leaders
• ·Home care and community care workers attending clients alone

Home care and community care workers are particularly important to keep current — they often work alone with clients without immediate backup, making their ability to respond to an emergency independently critical.

Renewal Requirements

Most aged care providers require:

• ·HLTAID009 (CPR) renewed every 12 months
• ·HLTAID011 (First Aid) renewed every 3 years

Check your employer's policy and your enterprise agreement — some providers require more frequent renewal or additional qualifications such as anaphylaxis or asthma management.

Getting Certified in Canberra

Our Phillip venue runs HLTAID011 sessions every weekday — morning and afternoon. The in-person session is 3 hours, your Statement of Attainment is issued the same day, and the course costs $95.

For organisations needing to train multiple staff, we offer group booking options. Contact us on 1300 628 299 to discuss scheduling for your team.