How To Get A Job As A First Aid Trainer
Are you considering a career change? More and more these days, people are looking for an occupation that allows them to be their own boss.
There are many options available for the independent soul: from being a ‘digital nomad’ to teaching English online from the comfort of your own home.
If travelling doesn’t float your boat and you already have a home base in Australia, becoming a first aid trainer might be an option worth considering. Teaching first aid allows you to set your own rates, manage your own time, have a skill set that’s globally relevant and you’ll empower others to make a difference in the world…what’s not to like about the idea?
But, not just anyone can become a first aid trainer. There are a few factors you have to consider before embarking on this career path. Read on to find out what you need to do to start your career as a first aid trainer and improve your chances of getting a job.
What Makes a Good First Aid Trainer?
Educating yourself with a first aider course is essential to becoming a good first aid trainer. It goes without saying that a teaching qualification is a good place to start if you want to be a first aid trainer. The good news is that getting qualified doesn’t have to be an expensive and time-consuming process. The Level 3 Award in Training and Education, for example, is recognized in most places in Australia, and it provides you with the know-how to teach any subject you want to (provided you have experience in it).
Once you know how to deliver an effective lesson by getting the right qualification, the next step is to equip yourself with the information you need regarding first aid. There are many courses available, and it is up to you to decide what you want your training school to specialize in. To name one possibility, the “First Aid at Work” qualification allows you to teach basic life support, emergency first aid at work, and a refresher course for first aid at work.
Covering yourself by getting insurance
Before you start advertising your training school, make sure you have public liability insurance, as well as professional indemnity insurance. Liability insurance will protect you in situations where clients blame you for injury or harm, while indemnity insurance covers you if you are accused of making a mistake.
Getting the basic equipment
Starting a new business does usually come with some initial costs. In order to run your training program, you will need some basic equipment, including the following standard items:
A minimum of 3 adult mannequins
At least 2 child mannequins and 2 infant mannequins for pediatric courses
An AED training unit (automated external defibrillator)
Bandages and wound dressings
Mannequin wipes (for efficient cleaning of mannequins)
Projector (for Powerpoint presentations during your training sessions)
Affiliations with first aid training institutes
Sometimes having the right credentials isn’t enough to attract customers. It can sometimes help to partner with companies that have a strong reputation as first aid trainers. Requirements for partnership vary from one institution to another but they do have a few things in common.
For starters, most organizations require some degree of experience as a first aid trainer on your part, in addition to having sometimes as much as three years of experience as a health professional, nurse or emergency services provider.
They may also require you to attend some of the courses that they offer in order to obtain the necessary accreditation that allows you to be affiliated with them. It might be an additional requirement that you can prove that you are certified in the courses that you want to teach.
Before becoming affiliated with a certain company, you may have to obtain a Blue Card, a Working with Children Card or a police check to show that you have no criminal record. It may be in your favor to sign up for Public Liability Insurance, and to provide proof of this, as well.
Finally, the organization you are wanting to partner with could request that you complete a minimum number of training hours before you qualify as one of their own.
The Verdict
Take care of the above-mentioned requirements to set yourself apart and improve your chances of getting your first job as a first aid trainer.
