Opt-in pre-approval for newly endorsed first aid units of competency

19 October 2020

On 12 August 2020 the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) endorsed the release of new versions of eight first aid units of competency within the HLT Health Training Package. These updates have been made to reflect industry best practice, expectations and current regulations, and are now available on the National Register www.training.gov.au.

New Unit	Superseded Unit	Equivalence
HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation	HLTAID001 Provide cardio pulmonary resuscitation	Non-equivalent
HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support	HLTAID002 Provide basic emergency life support	Non-equivalent
HLTAID011 Provide first aid	HLTAID003 Provide first aid	Non-equivalent
HLTAID012 Provide first aid in an education and care setting	HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting	Non-equivalent
HLTAID013 Provide first aid in remote or isolated site	HLTAID005 Provide first aid in remote situations	Non-equivalent
HLTAID014 Provide advanced first aid	HLTAID006 Provide advanced first aid	Non-equivalent
HLTAID015 Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy	HLTAID007 Provide advanced resuscitation	Non-equivalent
HLTAID016 Manage first aid services and resources	HLTAID008 Manage first aid services and resources	Equivalent

As highlighted in the table above, seven of these new units of competency are non-equivalent to their previous versions.

This means all RTOs will need to apply to ASQA if they want the new units added to their scope, including those that already have the superseded units on scope as stand-alone items.

RTOs with HLTAID008 on their explicit scope will automatically receive the equivalent replacement unit, HLTAID016.

RTOs not regulated by ASQA should engage with their own regulator regarding registration requirements.

Opt-in process for pre-approved RTOs

Given the high number of RTOs with superseded first aid units explicitly listed on their scope of registration, we are offering an alternative, simplified application process to eligible RTOs. Under this process, new units will only be added to an RTO’s scope if they already have the related superseded unit on their scope of registration.

We have reviewed all affected RTOs to determine their suitability for pre-approval to opt-in to a bulk application process. This review considered any recent non-compliance decision that would prohibit the new unit(s) being added to an RTO’s scope. RTOs for which ASQA has sanctioned for HLTAID001-007 units, or issued a notice of intention to do so, have not been pre-approved.

All pre-approved RTOs have been invited directly with instructions of how to opt-in to apply for the new first aid units. When opting-in, the RTO is declaring that it:

acknowledges the endorsement of HLT Health Training Package units of competency that have superseded other units on its scope of registration but have been deemed ‘non-equivalent’
has reviewed the new units on the SkillsIQ website and is aware of the changes from the superseded units and reasons for those changes
has capability and adequate resources to implement the required changes into its marketing, enrolment, delivery and assessment practices, including where those practices may be delivered by another organisation on the RTO’s behalf
commits to only commence marketing, enrolment, delivery, assessment or certification issuance in the new units once those changes have been fully incorporated into operational practices, processes and materials and validated against the principles of assessment and rules of evidence.

For eligible RTOs, the opportunity to opt-in closes 1 November 2020.

If you believe your RTO should have been pre-approved but have not yet received your invitation, please check asqanet to confirm that your contact details are up to date.

RTOs that were not pre-approved to opt-in have been notified individually that they may apply for the new units through asqanet. The invitation to opt-in will be sent to the listed Chief Executive at their email address as recorded in asqanet. If the listed Chief Executive has not received their invitation, please contact us.

All other RTOs are able to apply to ASQA to deliver any of these units through asqanet in line with our change of scope of registration process. All asqanet applications will be assessed individually upon submission, including those from RTOs who had been invited to opt-in but chose not to.

Changes in the HLT units of competency

The updates to the units of competency have been made to reflect industry best practice, expectations and current regulations.

Examples of changes include:

self-reflection of psychological impacts of rendering first aid
increased assessment requirements in volume and breadth of both knowledge and skill demonstration
additional resource requirements
increased focus on infection control and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

More information on newly-endorsed first aid products within the Health Training Package is available on the SkillsIQ website, including copies of these new units and their assessment requirements.

Transition arrangements

RTOs will have 12 months to transition out of using the superseded first aid units. For more information on transition requirements and how they apply to your RTO, review Clauses 1.26 and 1.27 in the Users’ Guide.

Embedded units

Updates only apply to the eight first aid units of competency. Where the superseded first aid units are embedded in a qualification or accredited course, delivery of the superseded unit must continue until those training products have been updated.

If a student presents a statement of attainment for a new first aid unit but their qualification or course requires the superseded unit, the RTO delivering that qualification or course needs to:

undertake a mapping exercise to confirm elements, performance criteria and assessment requirements have been addressed and identify any gaps
conduct gap training and assessment as necessary
make a decision as to the student’s competence in the superseded unit