Residents and workplaces across Brisbane’s north now have access to higher-level emergency response training closer to home, with My First Aid Course Chermside expanding its local delivery to include advanced first aid programs.
The training provider is now offering Remote First Aid, Advanced First Aid and Advanced Resuscitation courses in Chermside — qualifications typically associated with higher-risk workplaces, outdoor environments or situations where professional medical help may be delayed.
Director Mal Thompson said bringing the programs in Chermside a removes a significant barrier for people wanting to build their emergency response skills.
“Traditionally, people had to go into the Brisbane CBD to complete advanced qualifications,” Mr Thompson said. “Now they can do it right here in Chermside. Removing that travel makes it much easier for workers, parents and community groups to take the next step.”
Higher-level training remains uncommon
Queensland training completion data compiled by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows that while first aid skills are widespread, advanced qualifications represent a much smaller portion of overall training activity.
The data indicates that hundreds of thousands of people complete CPR and standard first aid courses in Queensland, while advanced-level certifications are typically recorded in the low thousands. Remote or isolated first aid training — designed for situations where professional help may be delayed — is rarer again.
Safety professionals say this trend means communities often rely on a relatively small group of people with higher-level capability during complex emergencies.
“Basic training is incredibly important, but advanced skills make a big difference in longer or more complicated incidents,” Mr Thompson said. “Those situations aren’t everyday, but when they do happen, the level of training can make a real difference.”
Which industries benefit
While advanced first aid qualifications are often linked with mining or heavy industry, experts say a much broader range of sectors can benefit.
Outdoor workers such as landscapers, maintenance crews and construction teams may operate in environments where access to medical help is not immediate. Sporting clubs and event organisers also face the challenge of managing injuries among large groups of people.
Community services, disability support, education and childcare settings can encounter complex medical situations requiring coordinated responses beyond basic first aid.
Remote First Aid training focuses on caring for a casualty when help may be hours away, including prolonged monitoring and decision-making. Advanced Resuscitation training introduces the use of specialised equipment and oxygen therapy, providing a higher level of capability during life-threatening events.
Training isn’t as long as many assume
Mr Thompson said many participants are surprised by how accessible the courses are.
“People often assume advanced training takes weeks, but much of the theory can be completed online, with less than eight hours of in-person practical training,” he said. “It builds on what people already know — it’s not starting from scratch.”
Local access removes a barrier
Making these courses available in Chermside removes one of the key obstacles that previously limited uptake — the need to travel into the city.
“As communities grow, so does the need for people who can respond confidently to more serious emergencies,” Mr Thompson said. “When advanced training is local, more people are willing to step up and gain those extra skills.”
Safety advocates say expanding access to higher-level first aid strengthens community resilience, ensuring more workplaces, organisations and households have someone prepared to respond when emergencies go beyond the basics.
With advanced training now available locally through My First Aid Course Chermside, residents in Brisbane’s north have access to a broader range of life-saving skills without leaving their area.
