Frequently asked questions

The ability to perform certain physical tasks is a requirement of many First Aid units. For example, performance of CPR skills requires students to:

“Perform at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted single rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (5 cycles of both compressions and ventilations) on an adult resuscitation mannikin placed on the floor.”

In cases where a student is unable to meet the physical requirements to competently demonstrate required skills, the QAS RTO can have the course participant attend the training and issue them with a Statement of Attendance rather than a Statement of Attainment. This approach enables the student to gain some important First Aid knowledge.

If you do not have the ability to perform resuscitation and/or another physical element of First Aid to the required performance standard, you should discuss your training requirements with QAS RTO before enrolling in a course.

Students under 18 years of age are welcome to take part in any of the First Aid training offered by QAS. However, it should be noted that, due to the nature of First Aid training, some coursework contains images of a graphic nature and involves discussion about severely injured or deceased patients. All students are expected to take part in simulated First Aid scenarios, some of which may be considered confronting in nature.

If you are under the age of 18, you must:

• obtain the permission of a parent or guardian to attend

• have your parent or guardian complete the Parent/Guardian Consent Form and Student Enrolment Form

In addition, students under 16 years of age must have an adult accompany them to the course. The accompanying adult can attend the course as a paying course participant or be present in the course as a parent/ carer chaperone.

The reason for adult course permission and accompaniment for under-age students is due to the nature of some course content which includes graphic images of wounds or body trauma as well as detailed verbal references to body parts and injury. This content matter may be offensive or unsettling to some people, including children.

QAS recommends 14 years of age as the minimum age for students enrolling in First Aid courses. It is also worth keeping in mind that a very young person may have insufficient strength in their arms and shoulders to depress a mannikin to achieve competency in CPR.

The QAS RTO is responsive to the learning needs of all its students and is supportive of individuals wanting to address their language, literacy, numeracy, or other individual needs. QAS RTO trainers can integrate practices into the course to support individuals and overcome limitations. For example, increasing text size, allowing more time for assessment, allowing learners to use translate services. However, it is important to note that our trainers are not specialists in individual support areas, .

You are encouraged to check the course details to ensure you understand the entry and performance requirements prior to enrolling in a course and disclose your needs for individual support with the RTO. If you have some doubt as to the requirements or outcomes of a course, please contact First Aid course administration by phone or email. We will arrange for your QAS booking manager or a QAS trainer to chat with you privately to gain a clearer understanding of your needs and determine how best to support you in your course.

If you need to cancel your enrolment or transfer to a course at a later date, please notify the QAS RTO as soon as possible. Fees may apply.

Note: The QAS RTO reserves the right to cancel/postpone any course that does not meet the minimum enrolment requirements or if other circumstances exist that require course cancellation or postponement. Students will be provided with as much notice as possible if a course needs to be cancelled/postponed.

When a student has been assessed as meeting all the requirements of the nationally accredited unit of competency they are enrolled in, a Statement of Attainment will be issued within 30 calendar days provided the QAS RTO has:

1. received full payment of course enrolment fees

2. verified the student’s Unique Student identifier (USI) or a letter issue by Student Identifiers Registrar confirming the student does not need a USI to receive their qualification or Statement of Attainment.

Awards are issued electronically via our Student Management System. You will receive an email with a link. Hardcopy awards are mailed to students who do not provide an email address, this may occur an additional fee. Refer to course information Fee, Charge and Refund Policy webpage or contact first aid training team via email (address provided below) to confirm.

The QAS RTO maintains a register in the QAS RTO Student Management System of all awards issued for a period of minimum 30 years.

If you need to replace a lost certificate that was issued by the QAS RTO, please email qas.rto@ambulance.qld.gov.au to arrange a copy of your originally received certificate to be emailed to you.