First Aid: What Training Your Carer Should Have

A short guide for Creative Carers families and carers in Victoria

Most days with a Creative Carer are filled with painting, parks and made-up games, and an emergency never comes. But if one ever did, you would want the person beside your child to know exactly what to do. That is why first aid is something we take seriously and never leave to chance.

This guide keeps things short and clear. There are two parts. If you are a parent, the first part is for you. If you are a carer, scroll down to your own section and we will walk you through every step.

What first aid do we ask for?

We ask every carer to hold Childcare First Aid, known as HLTAID012, the most complete first aid training for anyone working with young children. It is the standard we work towards with every carer.

Here is the part worth knowing. First aid is not legally required for a private nanny in Victoria. The only legal requirement is a Working With Children Check. We ask for childcare first aid anyway, because caring well for a child means being ready for the rare moment that matters most.

It sits alongside the Working With Children Check and the Police Check we ask of every carer, the three together forming the safety net under every placement.

Why childcare first aid, and not just any first aid?

General first aid is built around adults. Childcare first aid is built around small bodies, and the difference is real.

It teaches CPR for babies and children, which is different to CPR on an adult. It covers choking, severe asthma and allergic reactions, including how to use an EpiPen. It also prepares a carer for the seizures a high fever can trigger and the everyday tumbles of busy toddlers. These are the emergencies that actually happen in a child’s day, and exactly why we ask for childcare first aid.

For Parents

Here is the reassuring part. Every carer we introduce to you holds a current first aid certificate, which we check when they join us. Ideally that is childcare first aid, and where a carer holds general first aid for now, we ask them to move across to the childcare version as soon as they can, or when their certificate next comes up for renewal. Either way, we keep an eye on the dates so nothing quietly lapses.

There are two renewal clocks, and we track both for you. The full childcare first aid certificate is renewed every three years. The CPR part is refreshed every twelve months, because CPR skills are the first to fade. If either is coming due, we chase it up with the carer and keep you in the loop.

One small part stays with you. Because childcare first aid is our policy rather than the law, you are always free to set your own bar as the employer. If a carer’s renewal is ever briefly in progress, we will tell you, and whether to carry on in the meantime is your call.

You look after the cuddles and the bedtime stories. We will keep the training current alongside you.

For Carers

If first aid feels like one more thing to sort out, please do not worry. It is simpler than it looks, and we are always one message away if you get stuck.

Here is everything you need, one step at a time.

1. Hold the right certificate

The one we ask for is Childcare First Aid (HLTAID012). It is the childcare-specific course, and it is the one you need.

There is some lovely news here. When you complete HLTAID012, you automatically receive three other certificates in the same course: general first aid (HLTAID011), basic emergency life support (HLTAID010) and CPR (HLTAID009). Four in one.

If you only hold general first aid (HLTAID011) and CPR (HLTAID009) for now, that is alright. Just let us know, and we will ask you to move up to childcare first aid at your next renewal.

It is well worth holding for your own sake too. Childcare first aid is expected right across the nanny industry, and families look for carers who are proactive about safety, so a current certificate helps you stand out.

2. Make sure the course is the real thing

A proper course always includes hands-on practice, where you do CPR on a manikin in person. A course that is fully online is not valid in Australia.

Look for the words Nationally Recognised Training and a provider that is properly accredited. If you are not sure whether a course counts, you can look the provider up on the National Training Register and check it shows as current.

3. Keep your CPR current

Your CPR needs refreshing every twelve months. The full childcare first aid certificate lasts three years. We will send you a friendly reminder before each one is due, so you are never caught out.

4. Send your certificate to us

Once you have it, please send Creative Carers a clear photo or PDF of your certificate. That is all we need.

That really is everything. First aid is the kind of training you hope your carer never has to use, and the kind you are so glad they have if the day ever comes. Thank you for helping us keep every child in safe hands.

If anything here raises a question, just reach out. We are always happy to help.

Disclaimer: This guide explains how first aid works for carers in Victoria and how we approach it at Creative Carers. It is background information, not legal or medical advice, and it cannot speak to the specifics of your own situation. Training requirements, course codes and providers can change over time, so please confirm the current details with a nationally recognised training provider or the relevant authority, and seek professional advice where you need it. Anything you choose to do based on this guide remains your own decision.