Unlock Your Potential

You may or may not be aware that the new HLTAID health units are being introduced into the training market to replace the old HLTFA units. The initial release appears to have had some significant issues so the final cutover date has been extended until October 2014 although some RTOs have already implemented the recommendations.

The implications of the changes so far apply to the number of assessments required while not altering the time allowed for delivery. Fortunately Key2Act has been conducting a significant number of these practical activities already. One definite change is the amount of time undertaking CPR assessments. This has gone up but is still is in flux at the moment. At one stage it was going to be four minutes each on both an adult and an infant manikin. A review is being conducted by a Subject Matter Expert panel of the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council into the various aspects of the assessments required. We will bring you updates as they are notified to us.

One aspect that we will not be skimping on is the length of delivery of our training. We will, however, be reviewing our practical scenario sessions to increase the amount of hands activities for you. When the boss took his first course in the late 1990s, a “level 2” course was mandated at 24 hours in length so three days and it was heavily practical in its content. A significant amount of practicality has been lost over the years in favour of knowledge delivery.

Realistic scenarios in competition reinforce classroom and knowledge training.

Key2Act maintains assessment skills by continuing to volunteer as assessors for the Minerals Council of Australia Mine Rescue Competitions in Victoria. Placing competitors in a range of realistic scenarios and by providing comprehensive feedback, rescue team members are able to improve their hands-on capabilities. Under time constraints and with the emphasis on accuracy, mine rescue teams this year were challenged against relatively simple first aid situations. It reminded them to not over engineer what they had presented to them.

Independent observation helps first aiders pick up hints and mistakes not immediately apparent.

While classrooms cannot always provide the realism of competitions where “casualties” are made up by moulage experts and act in accordance with real injuries, Key2Act aims to draw inspiration in creating scenarios to improve the real-world abilities of their students. To gain a better appreciation of first aid, call us to arrange your next course.