Quick answer: HLTAID012 (Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting) is the mandatory first aid qualification for all childcare workers, early childhood educators, family day care providers, and OSHC staff in Queensland. It costs $95 at IRFA, takes 4 hours, and your certificate is valid for 3 years. CPR must be renewed annually within that period. Book HLTAID012 now →
What is HLTAID012?
HLTAID012 — officially titled “Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting” — is a nationally accredited unit of competency designed specifically for people who work with children. It replaced the older HLTAID004 unit and is part of the HLT Health Training Package administered by Skills IQ.
Unlike the general workplace first aid qualification (HLTAID011), HLTAID012 includes additional training in:
- Paediatric CPR — infant and child-specific resuscitation techniques, including modified compression depths and ventilation ratios
- Anaphylaxis management — recognising symptoms, administering an EpiPen/Anapen, and developing anaphylaxis action plans for individual children
- Asthma emergency response — using a spacer and puffer with children, recognising escalating asthma attacks, and following Asthma Australia’s 4-step plan
- Febrile convulsions — managing seizures in children under 5, which occur in approximately 1 in 30 Australian children
- ACECQA legal obligations — understanding Regulation 136, documentation requirements, and your legal responsibilities as an educator
When you complete HLTAID012, you actually receive four units of competency in one course: HLTAID009 (CPR), HLTAID010 (Basic Emergency Life Support), HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid), and HLTAID012 itself. This means one course covers all your first aid obligations.
Who needs HLTAID012 in Queensland?
Under the Education and Care Services National Law and the National Quality Framework, the following roles in Queensland require HLTAID012 or equivalent qualifications:
- Centre-based childcare educators — long day care, occasional care, and multi-purpose services
- Family day care educators — every FDC educator and educator assistant must hold all three qualifications (first aid, anaphylaxis, asthma)
- Outside school hours care (OSHC) workers — before school, after school, and vacation care staff
- Early childhood teachers — including those working towards their qualification
- Nominated supervisors — the person in day-to-day charge of the service
- School teachers — while not mandated under ACECQA for schools, Education Queensland recommends HLTAID012 for all teaching staff
- Nannies and au pairs — not regulated under the NQF, but many families and agencies require it
In Moreton Bay alone, there are over 100 childcare centres operating at capacity. Sesame Lane operates 14 centres across the region. Every one of these facilities needs multiple educators with current HLTAID012 — not just one per centre, but ideally one per room to ensure coverage during breaks, absences, and excursions.
ACECQA requirements explained
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is the national body that sets quality standards for childcare services. ACECQA maintains a list of approved first aid qualifications — and HLTAID012 is on that list as the qualification that satisfies all three mandatory training requirements in a single course:
- Approved first aid qualification — satisfied by the HLTAID011 component within HLTAID012
- Approved anaphylaxis management training — satisfied by the anaphylaxis-specific content in HLTAID012
- Approved emergency asthma management training — satisfied by the asthma-specific content in HLTAID012
This is the key advantage of HLTAID012 over HLTAID011: with HLTAID011 alone, you satisfy requirement 1 but not requirements 2 and 3. You would need to complete separate anaphylaxis and asthma management courses to be fully compliant. HLTAID012 covers all three in one 4-hour session.
Regulation 136 — what the law actually says
Regulation 136(1) of the Education and Care Services National Regulations requires approved providers of centre-based services to ensure that the following people are in attendance at all times and immediately available in an emergency:
- At least one staff member or nominated supervisor with a current approved first aid qualification
- At least one staff member or nominated supervisor with current approved anaphylaxis management training
- At least one staff member or nominated supervisor with current approved emergency asthma management training
The critical phrase is “at all times.” This means during outdoor play, excursions, nap time, and transition periods — not just during regular programming hours. If your only first-aid-qualified educator goes on a lunch break and no other qualified staff member is present, your service is technically non-compliant.
This is why best practice (and what ACECQA’s own guidance recommends) is to train all educators — not just the minimum required number.
For family day care, the requirements are even stricter: each FDC educator and educator assistant must individually hold all three qualifications. There is no “at least one” provision — every person must be qualified.
What the HLTAID012 course covers
At IRFA (RTO 32154), the HLTAID012 course is delivered as a 4-hour face-to-face session by qualified paramedic instructors. The course covers:
- DRSABCD action plan — Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation
- CPR on adults, children, and infants — including modified techniques for smaller patients
- AED (defibrillator) operation — including paediatric pad placement
- Choking management — back blows and chest thrusts for infants and children
- Anaphylaxis response — EpiPen and Anapen administration, recognising anaphylaxis vs allergic reaction, action plans
- Asthma emergency management — spacer and puffer technique, the 4×4×4 protocol, recognising severe asthma
- Febrile convulsions — seizure management in young children
- Wound management, burns, fractures — age-appropriate treatment for common childhood injuries
- Head injuries — assessment and escalation for children who have fallen or been struck
- Legal framework — Regulation 136, duty of care, incident documentation, parent notification requirements
You receive a digital Statement of Attainment on the same day, emailed within hours of completing the course. This certificate is nationally recognised and accepted by all Australian childcare services, ACECQA assessors, and state regulatory authorities.
HLTAID011 vs HLTAID012 — which do you need?
This is the most common question from Queensland educators. Here’s the simple answer:
- If you work in childcare, OSHC, family day care, or early learning → you need HLTAID012
- If you work in a standard workplace (office, retail, construction, healthcare) → HLTAID011 is sufficient
HLTAID012 includes everything in HLTAID011 plus the additional paediatric, anaphylaxis, and asthma management content required by ACECQA. It is the more comprehensive qualification and satisfies all three Regulation 136 requirements in one course.
If you already hold HLTAID011 and want to work in childcare, you would need to either upgrade to HLTAID012 or complete separate anaphylaxis and asthma management courses. Completing HLTAID012 from scratch is almost always the simpler and more cost-effective option.
Renewal and currency periods
Since 1 October 2023, the National Regulations prescribe specific currency periods for first aid qualifications in education and care services:
- HLTAID012 (first aid component) — must be renewed every 3 years
- CPR (HLTAID009) — must be renewed every 12 months
- Anaphylaxis management training — must be renewed every 3 years
- Emergency asthma management training — must be renewed every 3 years
The most common compliance mistake: educators renew their HLTAID012 every 3 years but forget the annual CPR renewal. Your first aid certificate remains technically valid for 3 years, but the CPR component within it expires after 12 months. Most childcare services now schedule annual CPR refreshers (HLTAID009, $45, 2 hours) for all staff to avoid this gap.
IRFA sends email reminders before your certification expires — but it’s also good practice for centre directors to maintain a staff qualification tracking spreadsheet with renewal dates.
Cost, duration, and where to train in Queensland
IRFA delivers HLTAID012 across Queensland at the following locations:
Sunshine Coast
- Sippy Downs headquarters — Unit 5/96 Bellflower Road, 2 min from USC. $95, 4 hours, sessions from 7 AM.
North Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Caboolture — Caboolture Hub, 4 Hasking St. $95, near train station, free parking.
- North Lakes — Community Centre, 10 The Corso. $95, near Westfield.
- Redcliffe — Redcliffe RSL, Irene Street. $95, on-site parking.
- Virginia/Northgate — Northgate Hall, 34 Ridge St. $95, 5 min from train station.
On-site at your centre
For groups of 6+ educators, we deliver training at your childcare centre anywhere in Moreton Bay or the Sunshine Coast. This minimises disruption — training can be scheduled during nap time, after hours, or on pupil-free days. Group discounts apply. Call 1300 766 298 for a centre-wide quote.
All training is delivered by qualified paramedic instructors under RTO 32154. Same-day digital certificate included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do HLTAID012 online in Queensland?
No — not entirely. HLTAID012 requires a face-to-face practical assessment component where you demonstrate CPR on a mannequin, practice EpiPen administration, and show competency in hands-on first aid scenarios. Some providers offer “blended” delivery where you complete theory online before attending a shorter practical session, but the practical component cannot be skipped. At IRFA, we deliver the full course face-to-face in 4 hours — no pre-course online homework required.
Is HLTAID012 the same as HLTAID004?
HLTAID012 replaced HLTAID004 when the HLT Health Training Package was updated. If you hold HLTAID004 and it is still within its 3-year validity period, it remains current. When it expires, you will need to renew with HLTAID012.
Does one HLTAID012 cover all three ACECQA requirements?
Yes. Completing HLTAID012 satisfies all three Regulation 136 requirements: approved first aid, approved anaphylaxis management training, and approved emergency asthma management training. This is confirmed on ACECQA’s qualification requirements page.
How many educators at my centre need HLTAID012?
Regulation 136 requires at least one qualified person in each area where children are being educated and cared for. However, ACECQA’s guidance and industry best practice strongly recommend training all educators — not just the minimum. This ensures coverage during breaks, absences, excursions, and between rooms.
What happens if my centre is found non-compliant during an ACECQA assessment?
Non-compliance with Regulation 136 can result in the service receiving a rating of “Working Towards” the National Quality Standard, or in serious cases, compliance action from your state regulatory authority. In Queensland, this is administered by the Department of Education.
Can I use my HLTAID012 certificate for non-childcare workplaces?
Yes. HLTAID012 includes HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) and HLTAID009 (CPR), so it satisfies general workplace first aid requirements under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 as well. It’s the more comprehensive qualification.
Ready to get certified? IRFA delivers HLTAID012 at Sippy Downs, Caboolture, North Lakes, Redcliffe, and Virginia/Northgate. $95, 4 hours, same-day certificate. Book HLTAID012 now → or call 1300 766 298.
