Can a Course Participant be too Young, or too Old?

Allens Training often receives enquiries about the minimum age for participating in Provide CPR and Provide First Aid courses.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority advises that the standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) does not prescribe minimum age requirements on learners. However, some training organisations do prescribe a minimum age for students enrolling in First Aid and CPR courses, mainly due to the sometimes graphic topics discussed in the courses. And for minors (under 18), written parental permission may be requested, depending on the requirements of the relevant state Department of Education and Training.

Some of the younger students attend with their parents when the whole family is about to embark on an outback adventure, or similar activity. Others are already undertaking vocational training while still in high school, and are required to have current CPR and First Aid certificates as part of their accreditation.

Allens Training considers knowledge about CPR and first aid to be of the highest importance, so we want to make sure we are not excluding anyone from our courses.

Our policies and procedures are aligned with the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), which makes it unlawful to discriminate on the ground of age. Therefore, we are happy to issue a Certificate of Participation, rather than a Statement of Attainment, in cases where a very young or a very old course participant has insufficient strength in their arms and shoulders to depress a manikin by the one-third required to achieve competency in CPR.

Some of these older course participants are dedicated students because they are carers for their grandchildren, and want to be prepared for accidents or medical emergencies. With the knowledge they learn and practice in a CPR training course, they can have a go at CPR if the situation arises.

As the Australian Council of Resuscitation says ‘Any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt’.