Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards

First Aid & CPR Australia

Becoming a foster carer in Australia means opening your home to a child or young person who cannot safely live with their own family. Across the states and territories, holding a current first-aid and CPR certificate is part of what carers are asked to have in place before and during a placement.

The first-aid requirement

Foster and kinship carers in Australia are assessed and approved by accredited agencies and state child-protection departments under the National Standards for Out-of-Home Care. Most agencies require carers to hold a current first-aid and CPR certificate — commonly the nationally recognised child-care first-aid qualification (HLTAID012), which builds on HLTAID011 Provide First Aid — covering CPR for adults, children and infants, choking and injury response.

First-aid certification is generally treated as current for three years and the CPR component is refreshed every twelve months in line with Australian Resuscitation Council guidance. The certificate is one requirement alongside the carer assessment, Working with Children Check and home safety review, not a substitute for them.

Severe allergies and anaphylaxis

The child-care first-aid qualification (HLTAID012) includes recognising and managing asthma and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), including the use of an adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injector.

How to meet it

A recognized, up-to-date first-aid and CPR certificate meets this requirement. It is in addition to the required training or assessment, and is renewed periodically.

See the recognized first-aid courses in your region

Training aligned with the latest emergency-care standards

Our CPR, AED and first-aid training is developed in line with the most recent international guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and first aid.

We rigorously follow the recommendations of ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation), the international body responsible for the scientific evaluation and development of global resuscitation standards. These recommendations serve as a reference for health organizations, institutions and professional orders worldwide — and are updated as scientific and clinical evidence evolves.

Keep your skills current with confidence

Every intervention can make a difference. Keeping CPR and emergency-care skills current is both a professional requirement and a responsibility toward patients, colleagues and the public.

See the recognized first-aid courses in your region

References

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