The new First Aid course (HLTAID012) can have negative consequences

The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW has learned from some members of the negative consequences when enrolling for ACECQA’s proposed new First Aid course (HLTAID012).

At the time of writing this article, the ACECQA website still says “HLTAID004 was superceded by HLTAID012 on 15 October 2020.”

Yet, ACA NSW had previously received clarification from both ACECQA and the NSW Department of Education, essentially saying that HLTAID004 will continue to be recognised until further notice.

The problem some members have recently experienced is that the new course (HLTAID012) is not recognised the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as a component of the following qualifications:

• CHC30113: Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, or
• CHC50113: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Hence, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) will not recognise students intending to complete CHC30113 or CHC50113 if they had completed HLTAID012 and not HLTAID004.

According to ASQA, RTOs can at their own cost (or their students’ cost) conduct a formal mapping process to demonstrate equivalence. However, it is ACA NSW’s understanding that there will be some elements of HLTAID004 that will still be needed to be completed.

ACA NSW will raise this matter again to ASQA, ACECQA and the NSW Department of Education in the hope that this matter can be finally harmonised.

PUBLISHED: 6 APRIL 2021