WCFAT Guide · First Aid in WA
A plain-English guide to every nationally recognised first aid qualification — and exactly who needs which one in 2026.
West Coast First Aid Training (WCFAT) delivers nationally accredited first aid courses across Perth and Broome WA on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO 90909. Our trainers are active lifeguards, paramedics, and nurses with real emergency response backgrounds — not just classroom instructors.
If your employer, school, or licence requires "a first aid certificate" without specifying a course code, they almost certainly mean HLTAID011 Provide First Aid. That's the national standard for workplace first aid in Australia and the course most people need.
If your workplace is a childcare centre or school, you need HLTAID012. If you work remotely — mining, oil and gas, or rural locations — you need HLTAID013 or higher. If you're responsible for managing your organisation's first aid program, add HLTAID016 or the full HLTSS00068 skill set.
Still not sure? Read on. We've broken down every course below.
HLTAID009 covers the DRSABCD action plan, correct CPR technique for adults, children, and infants, AED use, and rescue breathing. It does not cover broader first aid skills like wound management, fractures, or anaphylaxis — for those you need HLTAID011.
The Australian Resuscitation Council recommends CPR be renewed annually. If you hold HLTAID011, you can renew just the CPR component each year with HLTAID009 rather than redoing the full first aid course.
HLTAID011 is the backbone of workplace first aid in Australia. It replaced the older HLTAID003 (Senior First Aid) and HLTAID001/002 units. If someone mentions "Senior First Aid" or "Level 2 First Aid," they mean this course.
The course covers CPR (HLTAID009), basic emergency life support (HLTAID010), and a full range of first aid responses including bleeding, burns, fractures, anaphylaxis, asthma, poisoning, stroke, diabetic emergencies, and spinal management.
In WA, the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and the First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice (WorkSafe WA) require employers to ensure an adequate number of trained first aiders on site. For most workplaces, that means at least one person with current HLTAID011.
If you work in WA's construction industry, you may be eligible for a Construction Training Fund (CTF) rebate on your HLTAID011 course fee. You pay upfront and claim the rebate directly from CTF after completion. Ask us about this when you enquire.
Under the Education and Care Services National Law and the National Quality Standard, at least one staff member with current HLTAID012 must be present at all times in education and care settings. This replaces the older HLTAID004 unit.
HLTAID012 includes everything in HLTAID011 plus additional focus on conditions common in children: anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injector use (EpiPen, Anapen), febrile seizures, asthma management, and implementing emergency action plans specific to education and care environments.
Note: HLTAID012 includes HLTAID009, HLTAID010, and HLTAID011 — so this one course satisfies all first aid requirements for childcare workers. You do not need to do HLTAID011 separately.
Standard HLTAID011 is designed for environments where an ambulance arrives in minutes. HLTAID013 is for situations where you might be managing a casualty for hours before medical help arrives. It covers extended patient monitoring, improvised treatment, fluid management, safe evacuation planning, and decision-making without medical backup.
In WA, this course is increasingly required for FIFO and remote site workers across the Pilbara, Kimberley, and offshore operations. Many WA mining companies and remote work contractors now require HLTAID013 for supervisors and emergency response team (ERT) members.
HLTAID014 goes significantly beyond standard first aid. It covers complex trauma management, major bleeding control including tourniquet application and haemostatic dressings, detailed systematic patient assessment, fractures, burns, shock, crush injuries, and clinical handover to paramedics.
This course is often combined with HLTAID015 as the Advanced First Aid Skill Set — particularly for mining, oil and gas, and marine industries in WA.
HLTAID015 covers advanced airway management techniques including oropharyngeal airway insertion, bag-valve mask resuscitation, suction techniques, and the safe administration of emergency oxygen at the correct flow rate. It is fully aligned with Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines.
Important: HLTAID015 requires annual renewal — unlike most first aid certificates which are three years. This reflects the critical nature of the skills and the importance of maintaining currency in advanced resuscitation techniques.
The Occupational First Aid Skill Set is the most comprehensive workplace first aid qualification available in Australia. It combines HLTAID009, HLTAID011, HLTAID014, HLTAID015, and HLTAID016 into a single intensive program, meeting the highest requirements for designated first aid officers on Australian work sites.
The course covers all advanced first aid and resuscitation skills plus the management of first aid systems — risk assessments, kit inspections, action plans, and incident debriefing. Participants who complete this course are qualified to not only respond to emergencies but to manage an entire workplace first aid program.
| Course | Who it's for | Duration | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| HLTAID009 CPR | Everyone — CPR skills only or annual renewal | 2 hours | Annual |
| HLTAID011 First Aid | Most workplaces — the standard certificate | 1 day | 3 years (CPR annual) |
| HLTAID012 Education & Care | Childcare, OSHC, kindergartens | 1 day | 3 years (CPR annual) |
| HLTAID013 Remote First Aid | Mining, FIFO, remote communities | 2 days | 3 years (CPR annual) |
| HLTAID014 Advanced First Aid | First aid officers, high-risk industries | 1–2 days | 3 years (CPR annual) |
| HLTAID015 Advanced Resus | Healthcare, lifeguards, oxygen users | 1 day | Annual |
| HLTAID016 Manage FA Services | HSE managers, first aid coordinators | 1–2 hours | No renewal |
| HLTSS00068 Occupational | Mining, construction, oil & gas officers | 1–2 days | Annual (CPR & 015) |
This is one of the most common questions we get — and the answer depends on which course you did:
The Australian Resuscitation Council recommends CPR skills be refreshed every 12 months. This is a clinical recommendation, not a legal requirement — but most WA employers, mine sites, and childcare regulators treat it as mandatory. If you're in any doubt, renew your CPR annually. A one-hour refresher could be the difference that matters.
Call us or send an enquiry and we'll tell you exactly which course your employer, licence, or industry requires. We deliver all courses on-site at your workplace across Perth and Broome WA.
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