Updated Advice on the Delivery of First Aid
The following is an update, as of June 2022, on how Rhythm First Aid is required to deliver our First Aid and CPR course trainings. The following applies to our Nationally Recognised courses and does not apply to our Infant & Child First Aid courses.
Update Summary
Training and assessment activities undertaken during our First Aid and CPR courses will revert to pre-covid conditions. Specifically, learners will be required to demonstrate rescue breathing techniques on manikins and not simulate such skills to the side of the manikin as previously allowed during the pandemic.
This has taken effect from 1 September, 2022.
Full statement
Statement on the delivery of First Aid Training: Updated advice from the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (June 2022)
On 3 May 2021 AISC provided updated advice to Registered Training Organisations about the delivery of First Aid Training during the COVID-19 pandemic. This advice outlined reasonable adjustments recommended by the First Aid Industry Reference Committee (IRC).
On 30th May 2022 the First Aid IRC discussed the current reasonable adjustment following a request from the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) to reconsider the current advice. From these discussions the First Aid IRC has advised the Australian Industry and Skills Committee that all reasonable adjustments implemented during the pandemic should be removed before the 1st of September 2022.
This means that training and assessment activities undertaken during First Aid and CPR courses will revert to pre-covid conditions.
Specifically, learners will be required to demonstrate rescue breathing techniques on manikins and not simulate such skills to the side of the manikin as previously allowed during the pandemic. Learners will not have the opportunity to request an exemption from providing rescue breaths if they wish to gain a competent result in the Unit of Competency and/or qualification.
Additionally, any other adjustments that RTOs may have made during the COVID-19 pandemic should be reviewed to ensure the integrity of the Unit of Competency and/or qualification is upheld. As an example, skills such as care of the unconscious casualty, auto-injector administration and bleeding control should be demonstrated on another person (a ‘casualty’), and not themselves.
To ensure that RTOs have adequate time to prepare, this updated advice will come into effect from 1 September 2022.
RTOs should take the time to review their infection control procedures and ensure that manufacturer guidelines regarding hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting of CPR manikins and equipment are followed.
RTOs should continue to consider:
● State, Territory and Federal Health authority’s advice (www.health.gov.au)
● Australian Resuscitation Council's recommendations and guidelines (www.resus.org.au)
● Safe Work Australia advice (www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au)
● Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (www.asqa.gov.au)
Statement dated 22 June 2022