Sharon has 21+ years of experience as a qualified Emergency Care Nurse registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) and 12+ years as a First Aid Trainer.
She takes pride in FirstAidPro making first aid training available, comprehensive and affordable to everybody.
Key Takeaways
- HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the nationally recognised first aid unit, and it includes CPR (HLTAID009) plus basic emergency life support (HLTAID010).
- The qualification is valid for 3 years, with a CPR refresher recommended every 12 months by Safe Work Australia.
- It covers the DRSABCD action plan, AED use, bleeding, burns, anaphylaxis, asthma and more.
- HLTAID011 supersedes the older HLTAID003 unit, so HLTAID003 is no longer current.
- It is the standard workplace first aid qualification. You can compare formats on our HLTAID011 course page or read our HLTAID009 CPR explainer.
What Does HLTAID011 Provide First Aid Cover?
HLTAID011 teaches you to recognise and respond to a wide range of emergencies using nationally set skills and knowledge. The scope is defined in the HLTAID011 unit and Assessment Requirements published at training.gov.au, and our trainers assess every skill through scenario-based practical tasks.
The course covers these core areas:
- DRSABCD action plan — the primary assessment used to check Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR and Defibrillation.
- CPR for adults, children and infants — performed in line with Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC/ANZCOR) guidelines.
- Using an AED (automated external defibrillator) safely and effectively.
- Managing an unconscious casualty and placing them in the recovery position.
- Bleeding, wounds, burns, fractures, spinal injuries and shock — how to assess and treat each one.
- Medical conditions — anaphylaxis, asthma, stroke, seizures, poisoning, and bites and stings.
- Infection control and safe use of personal protective equipment.
- Legal responsibilities and duty of care, plus clear communication with emergency services.
- Incident reporting after you provide first aid.
You will practise these skills on manikins and in realistic scenarios, then demonstrate competence to a qualified trainer. Does HLTAID011 include CPR? Yes. CPR is a central part of the unit, so you finish the course able to perform resuscitation on an adult, a child and an infant. This breadth is why HLTAID011 is treated as the general-purpose first aid qualification for both workplaces and the wider community.
HLTAID011 vs HLTAID009, HLTAID010 And HLTAID003
HLTAID011 is the complete “Provide First Aid” unit, and it already contains the CPR and life-support units, so you do not need to enrol in them separately. The training.gov.au register sets out how these codes relate.
Here is how the code family fits together:
- HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the full qualification. It includes HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and HLTAID010 Provide Basic Emergency Life Support within its scope.
- HLTAID009 is the standalone CPR unit. Choose it when you only need a CPR certificate, for example as an annual refresher between full first aid renewals.
- HLTAID010 covers basic emergency life support and sits between CPR-only and full first aid.
The older HLTAID003 Provide First Aid unit is a common source of confusion. HLTAID011 supersedes HLTAID003, which was superseded on 15 October 2020 according to training.gov.au. The two units are recorded as not equivalent, so HLTAID003 is no longer the current qualification. If your certificate still shows HLTAID003, HLTAID011 is the up-to-date unit you renew into. When you complete HLTAID011 with us, your CPR component is covered, so there is no need to book a separate HLTAID009 course at the same time.
How Long Does HLTAID011 Last? Renewal And Expiry
An HLTAID011 certificate is valid for 3 years, but Safe Work Australia recommends refreshing your CPR skills every 12 months. These two timeframes are the detail many people miss, and getting them right keeps you workplace-compliant.
The renewal picture works like this:
- Full first aid qualification: renew every 3 years. This aligns with the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace.
- CPR refresher: recommended annually (every 12 months) in the same Code of Practice, because CPR is the most perishable skill you learn.
The reason for the annual CPR refresh is skill decay. The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC/ANZCOR) Guideline 10.1 on basic life support training notes that CPR skills fade within weeks to months without practice, so more frequent refreshers keep your technique sharp. A short HLTAID009 CPR course covers this gap between full renewals.
To stay compliant, plan to renew HLTAID011 before your certificate expires rather than after. If you let it lapse, you may not meet your workplace’s first aid requirements until you requalify. Our course calendar lets you book a renewal in good time, and the qualification you earn is valid for a fresh 3 years.
Who Needs HLTAID011?
If you are named as a workplace first aider, HLTAID011 is almost always the qualification your employer needs you to hold. The driver is a legal one. Under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure workers have access to adequate first aid, including trained first aiders.
Safe Work Australia provides recommended first-aider ratios in its model Code of Practice to help workplaces decide how many trained people they need:
- Low-risk workplaces: around 1 first aider per 50 workers.
- High-risk workplaces: around 1 first aider per 25 workers.
- Remote high-risk workplaces: around 1 first aider per 10 workers.
In practice, HLTAID011 is held by workplace first aid officers, construction and mining workers, office staff, healthcare and aged care workers, childcare and education staff, fitness professionals, sports coaches, and security and crowd controllers. It also suits parents and community members who simply want the confidence to help.
The course works for both first-time learners and experienced first aiders due for renewal. Because we run public courses across Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and many regional centres, you can usually find a session close to home or work. Employers who want group training can also arrange on-site delivery through us.
How HLTAID011 Is Delivered And Certified
We offer four ways to complete HLTAID011, and every one leads to the same nationally recognised certificate valid for 3 years. This flexibility lets you match the training to your schedule while meeting the same assessment standard.
Our delivery modes are:
- Face-to-face (no online): a single 5-hour session with all learning and assessment done in the classroom.
- Blended: online theory beforehand, followed by a 3-hour practical session with a trainer.
- Express refresher: online theory, then a fast 2-hour practical assessment for those renewing.
- 100% online: live theory and assessment via Zoom with a trainer.
Whichever mode you choose, a few practical details apply. Courses start from $97, and Certificates Issued Same Day* (T&Cs Apply) so you can show proof of your qualification quickly. You will need a 10-digit Unique Student Identifier (USI) to be certified, which is a standard requirement for nationally recognised training. All of our training is delivered as a Registered Training Organisation, RTO 31124.
To see dates, formats and locations near you, visit our HLTAID011 course page or browse the course calendar.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace training from a qualified first aid trainer or the advice of a medical professional. In an emergency, always call 000.
Recent Posts
HLTAID009 Provide CPR: What The CPR-Only Course Covers — firstaidpro.com.au/course/hltaid009/
HLTAID012 Provide First Aid In An Education And Care Setting — firstaidpro.com.au/course/hltaid012/
Book Your Next Course — firstaidpro.com.au/calendar/
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HLTAID011 Include CPR?
Yes. HLTAID011 includes the HLTAID009 Provide CPR unit and HLTAID010 Provide Basic Emergency Life Support within its scope, according to training.gov.au. You finish the course able to perform CPR on adults, children and infants, so you do not need to book a separate CPR course to be certified.
How Long Does HLTAID011 Last?
An HLTAID011 certificate is valid for 3 years. The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice also recommends a CPR refresher every 12 months, because CPR is the skill that fades fastest. We recommend renewing before your certificate expires to stay workplace-compliant.
What Is The Difference Between HLTAID003 And HLTAID011?
HLTAID011 superseded HLTAID003 on 15 October 2020, so HLTAID003 is no longer the current unit. The training.gov.au register records the two as not equivalent. If your certificate still shows HLTAID003, HLTAID011 is the up-to-date qualification you renew into.
Is HLTAID011 Nationally Recognised?
Yes. HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is listed with a status of Current on the national training register at training.gov.au. This means it is a nationally recognised unit of competency that any accredited Registered Training Organisation, such as FirstAidPro (RTO 31124), can assess and certify.
Can I Do HLTAID011 Online?
The theory component can be completed online, but the practical CPR and first aid skills must be assessed in person by a trainer. We offer a 100% online option delivered live via Zoom, along with blended and face-to-face modes, so the practical assessment is always trainer-led.
How Long Does The HLTAID011 Course Take?
There is no single mandated nominal-hours figure on the unit record, so training time depends on the delivery mode. At FirstAidPro it ranges from a 2-hour express refresher assessment up to a 5-hour face-to-face session, with blended delivery sitting around 3 hours of practical time.
