First Aid Training in Australia

1. First Aid Training in Australia Peter Mckie Managing Director PARASOL EMT Pty Limited

2. Content • Overview of First Aid Training in Australia • Australian Quality Training Framework • Training Packages • Units of Competency • Assessment

3. Overview of First Aid Training in Australia • Very similar in some states to UK model • First Aid training required under legislation • Number of first aiders mandated (1 per 25) • Large organisations (over 100) - Occupational First Aider • No Appointed Person • First aid kits required under legislation • Various standards depending on the: • size of organisation • type of organisation • Codes of Practise on First Aid exist in each State

4. Overview of First Aid Training in Australia • Differences exist • No independent assessor required • Shorter courses • Several accreditation processes exist

5. Overview of First Aid Training in Australia • Dominated by traditional providers • St John - 315,000 • Red Cross – 90,000 • Private providers are emerging • PARASOL EMT – 42,000 • Swinburne University - 30,000

6. Overview of First Aid Training in Australia • Subject to legislation • New South Wales • South Australia • Western Australia (Childcare) • Other states providers have to be: • A Registered Training Organisation • Have first aid on scope of training

7. Relative Size of Market

8. Levels of training • First aid training has several levels • Senior First Aid • Most common workplace course • 1 or 2 day formats • 1 day with eLearning or pre-course material • CPR (2 – 4 hours) • Basic Life Support (1 day) • Occupational First Aid (4 days) • Remote Area First Aid (4 days)

9. eLearning • eLearning is the emerging area in first aid. • Reduce normal first aid course by 50% • Pre-course • Reduce time away from work • Allows customisation of theory and practical aspects

10. Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) • The AQTF is the quality system that underpins the national vocational education and training sector and outlines the regulatory arrangements in the states and territories • The framework consists of two sets of standards: • Standards for Registered Training Organisations • Standards for State and Territory Registering/Course Accrediting Bodies

11. The National Training System • Industry leadership and engagement • Training qualifications developed by industry • Industry determines competencies for each qualification

12. Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) • The primary objective of the AQTF is to provide the basis for a nationally consistent, high quality vocational education and training system • The Standards for Registered Training Organisations outline a set of 12 auditable standards that must be met and maintained for registration as a training provider in Australia

13. 12 Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO) • Systems for quality training and assessment • Compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements • Effective financial management procedures • Effective administrative and records management procedures • Recognition of qualifications issued by other RTOs • Access and equity and client service • Competence of RTO staff • RTO assessments • Learning and assessment strategies • Issuing AQF qualifications and statements of attainment • Use of national and state/territory logos • Ethical marketing and advertising

14. Training Packages • A training package is a set of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people’s skills in a specific industry, industry sector or enterprise • Training packages describe the skills and knowledge that individuals need to perform effectively in the workplace • Teachers and trainers develop learning strategies – the ‘how’ – depending on learners’ needs, abilities and circumstances

15. Training Packages • Training packages are developed by industry through national industry training advisory bodies. • Training packages are monitored and reviewed to ensure that they are current and continue to meet industry needs • Training packages consist of a set of endorsed components and some have an associated collection of support materials • Endorsed components include competency standards, qualifications and assessment guidelines • Support materials may include assessment materials, learning strategies, professional development materials

16. Training Packages • The benefits of training packages include: • Training meets the needs and requirements of industry to the standard set by industry • Qualifications are consistent and nationally recognised • Students have the flexibility to choose how, when and where the training is undertaken • Individuals and businesses are assured of training and qualifications in areas that specifically suit the needs of the enterprise

17. Units of Competency • Units of competency comprise: • Identifying code • Competency name • Unit descriptor • Elements of competency and performance criteria • Range statement • Evidence guide • National key competencies

18. Units of Competency • The unit descriptor provides a general guide to the purpose of the competency • Elements of competency are the building blocks of the unit of competency • They describe observable actions which result in outcome performance • They are the component activities of the competency- the smallest, logical, identifiable, discrete sub-groupings of actions and knowledge that make up a competency • They define the skills associated with the competency and provide guidance on the scope of the competency • They are directly linked to performance criteria

19. Performance criteria specify the required level of performance expected in the workplace: • “what people need to do to display competence” • Describe evidence that can be observed • Describe aspects of work organisation and the overall work role • Describe only essential aspects of performance • Refer to the work requirements where practicable

20. Range of variables place a defined competency in the context in which it will be applied. Information includes: • The unit scope • The unit context • Legislation such as occupational health and safety • The range of equipment, processes and procedures • Requirements arising from enterprise procedures • Special characteristics and needs of customers • Particular locations • The range of applications arising from particular quality assurance systems

21. Evidence guide helps in the interpretation and assessment of units in the standards, and indicate the context within which an individual would need to be assessed. These cover: • Context for assessment • Critical aspects of the unit and its relationship to other units • The required evidence of competency

22. Moderation of Assessment • Moderation is the process of comparing standards of assessment across different courses, institutions or organisations, to ensure that assessments are valid, reliable, flexible and fair • Standards 8 & 9 of the AQTF require registered training organisations to: • Ensure that assessments are valid and reliable • Validate their assessment strategies at least annually