First Aid Requirements for Childcare Centres and Early Learning Centres in Australia

First Aid Requirements for Childcare Centres and Early Learning Centres

Childcare centres, early learning centres, family day care services, and schools have specific first aid requirements that go beyond the standard workplace obligations. These requirements reflect the vulnerability of children in care and the higher likelihood of medical emergencies in settings where young children are present.

The Regulatory Framework

In Western Australia, education and care services are regulated under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011. These national regulations set out specific first aid requirements for all approved education and care services, including long day care centres, family day care, outside school hours care, and kindergartens.

Mandatory First Aid Qualifications

The national regulations require that education and care services ensure that at least one staff member with a current approved first aid qualification is present at all times when children are being educated and cared for. This requirement applies to:

• Every approved education and care service
• Every family day care residence or venue
• Every outside school hours care service
• Every kindergarten program

The approved first aid qualification for education and care settings is HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting. This qualification is specifically designed for the childcare and education context and includes additional content on:

• Paediatric first aid (first aid for infants and children)
• Recognition and management of anaphylaxis
• Recognition and management of asthma
• Recognition and management of febrile convulsions
• Child-specific CPR techniques

Anaphylaxis and Asthma Training

In addition to the general first aid requirement, the national regulations require that education and care services ensure that at least one staff member with current approved anaphylaxis management training and current approved emergency asthma management training is present at all times when children are being educated and cared for.

HLTAID012 incorporates both anaphylaxis and asthma management training, meaning that a staff member who holds HLTAID012 satisfies all three training requirements (first aid, anaphylaxis, and asthma) with a single qualification.

How Many Staff Need First Aid Training?

The national regulations require that at least one qualified first aider is present at all times. However, this is a minimum requirement. Best practice, and the guidance of most early childhood education regulators, is to have multiple staff members trained in first aid to ensure coverage during breaks, leave, and staff turnover.

For larger services with multiple rooms or outdoor areas, having a trained first aider in each area at all times is strongly recommended. This ensures that first aid can be provided promptly wherever a child may be injured or become unwell.

Renewal Requirements

HLTAID012 qualifications must be renewed regularly:

• HLTAID012 (full qualification): Every 3 years
• CPR component: Every 12 months

Services must maintain records of staff first aid qualifications and their expiry dates, and must ensure that renewals are completed before qualifications expire. A gap in first aid coverage — even for a single day — is a breach of the national regulations.

First Aid Kits and Equipment

Education and care services must maintain first aid kits that are:

• Appropriate for the number and age of children in care
• Maintained in good condition with all items in date
• Accessible to staff but out of reach of children
• Clearly marked and known to all staff

Services that care for children with known medical conditions (such as anaphylaxis or asthma) must also have the required medications and equipment (EpiPens, Ventolin, spacers) available and accessible, with current management plans for each affected child.

The Importance of Onsite Training

Onsite first aid training is particularly valuable for childcare and education settings because it allows training to be contextualised to the specific environment. Training delivered at your centre can incorporate your specific emergency procedures, the location of your first aid equipment, and scenarios relevant to your setting (such as playground injuries, choking incidents, or allergic reactions).

Ready Set Rescue WA delivers HLTAID012 training onsite at childcare centres, early learning centres, and schools across Perth, minimising disruption to your operations while ensuring your staff are genuinely prepared to respond to a paediatric emergency.