3 August 2026 · 4 min read · First Aid for Babysitters
There are three nationally recognised units people usually consider, and the codes make them harder to tell apart than they need to be. Here is the plain version.
About ninety minutes. This is CPR on its own for adults, children and infants, plus choking response and how to use a defibrillator. It is the cheapest option and it covers the situations where a life is immediately at risk. It does not cover burns, bleeding, asthma or allergic reactions.
About three hours. This contains the whole CPR unit and adds bleeding, burns, fractures, asthma, anaphylaxis, poisoning, bites and stings. It is the standard workplace certificate that most Australian employers ask for.
About three and a half hours. This contains everything in the first two and adds content specific to caring for children, including febrile convulsions, paediatric asthma and anaphylaxis management, and the documentation expected in education and care settings.
If your budget is tight and you want the single most useful skill, book the CPR unit. If you want the certificate that families and agencies recognise and that covers the everyday injuries you will actually meet, HLTAID012 is the better choice. It is only about thirty minutes longer than the standard first aid course, and the extra content is entirely about children, which is the whole job.
If you work in a formal education and care service rather than privately for families, HLTAID012 is generally the required unit rather than an optional upgrade.
Any nationally recognised first aid certificate includes an in person practical assessment, because you cannot demonstrate compressions or back blows through a screen. Courses advertising complete certification with no face to face component will not be accepted by agencies, employers or regulators.
Compare dates and locations or read the FAQ if you still have questions.
Nationally recognised training with CBD College (RTO 91399). Book online and get your certificate the same day.
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