How to Become a First Aid Trainer in New Zealand

When someone has injured themselves or is feeling unwell, you’re supposed to provide them with emergency or immediate care before they can receive full medical treatment. This type of emergency care is referred to as "first aid". Sometimes first aid attention is all that's needed to treat a minor condition, but when dealing with serious issues, one should continue giving first aid care until more advanced medical care is accessible to the patient.

How someone chooses to administer first aid care can literally translate into the victim’s life or death. Normally, during a first aid training session in NZ, trainees are taught to take these preliminary steps:

• Introduce yourself to the individual who is hurt or ill as your first step.
• You should explain that you are trained in first aid and that you are willing to assist.
• Do not touch the person until they have given you permission to assist them. You need to get permission from them before you can assist them.
• If you come across someone who appears to be disoriented or who is critically injured or ill, you can safely assume that they are hoping for your assistance and would appreciate it if you offered it to them. In legal terms, this is referred to as "implied consent."

So, who’s a first-aid trainer?
A first-aid trainer in NZ is someone who has the qualifications and experience to teach anyone how to provide emergency care and then evaluate their proficiency in doing so. They can teach people how to initially respond in a crisis moment when another person has been injured or has fallen severely ill. First aid trainers are obligated to instruct students in the fundamental skills of reaction, response, calling for help, and attending to minor injuries. Additionally, they may be required to evaluate the participants in their courses for certification in first aid training in NZ, which is typically referred to as "First Aid at Work".

First aid trainers will work with medium-sized groups of people in a hands-on setting. This means they need to be confident, able to speak clearly, and effective at getting their point across. To be a first aid trainer, you need to be able to make the group feel comfortable and positive, and you need to know enough to answer questions and act out situations.

First aid trainers might need to travel all over the country to teach their courses, and may not always be able to work during their normal office hours. That’s because they often have to work around their trainees' availability around their work schedule. This means that you’ll have to be adaptable and ready to put in work during non-traditional hours.

 Salary of a First Aid Trainer in NZ
 Here's what you can write regarding the salary of a First-Aid Trainer in Auckland:
Salary for First-Aid Trainers in Auckland, New Zealand
While information suggests a national average salary of $65,480 for first-aid instructors, including a bonus of $1,257 (based on data from Wellington), it's important to consider Auckland-specific factors.

• Cost of living: Auckland generally has a higher cost of living compared to Wellington. This might influence salaries in Auckland to be slightly higher than the national average.

To get a more accurate idea of first-aid instructor salaries in Auckland, you can explore these resources:

• Job boards: Search for "First-Aid Trainer" jobs on platforms like SEEK [https://www.seek.co.nz/first-aid-trainer-jobs]([invalid URL removed] (xīn chóu) (salary) ranges are often listed in job descriptions.
• Salary comparison websites: Sites like Payscale, nz.indeed.com/career/first-aid-instructor/salaries (might require a free account) or Talent.com https://nz.talent.com/salary allow you to filter by location (Auckland) for a more precise salary range.
  

By using these resources, you'll get a better understanding of what first-aid instructors typically earn in Auckland.

Responsibilities
First aid trainers in NZ are accountable for making sure that their students are qualified enough to respond professionally to various types of emergencies. This indicates that they could be held liable in situations in which incorrect service is communicated. So, it is their job to make sure their work is done right, and it is important for the whole group to understand what is going on.

These duties and responsibilities include:

• Giving their trainees accurate information about how to help in an emergency.
• Demonstrating how first aid should be done.
• Seeing that everyone in the group fully understands the explanation.
• Putting on presentations in a way that is both eloquent and easy for students of all levels to understand.
• Providing instructions on how to operate the machines and equipment.
• Keeping the equipment and resources clean and well maintained.
• Maintaining a database of registered students.
• Assessing the group's first aid skills and giving certificates to those who have met the standards and criteria.
• Scheduling and coordinating course attendance with participants.
• Distributing course materials and advertising upcoming courses.

Skills of a First Aid Trainer in NZ
To be an effective first aid instructor, you need to have strong interpersonal skills in order to exude a welcoming environment in which attendees can absorb information without difficulty and feel free to pose questions.

Professional first aid educators should:

• Be comfortable talking to groups of people and showing them what you've learned.
• Have a native command of the English language as well as the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Possess the ability to instruct students in a manner that is kinaesthetic.
• Be active.
• Maintain a pleasant demeanour, make yourself approachable, and answer questions with patience.
• Possess the ability to work with variable schedules.
• When it comes to making evaluations, you need to have a keen eye for key details.
• Working knowledge of computers is necessary for maintaining accurate records.
• When producing learning resources for the group, ensure that your writing style does not contain any jargon that’s difficult to understand.
• Know everything there is to know about taking care of customers and keeping people safe.

The Working Conditions
First aid trainers should have the ability to work in varying locations, but most of the time they might be teaching indoors, such as in gymnasiums, lecture halls, community centres, etc. First aid instructors need to be comfortable with public speaking and demonstrating because their classes will, most often, have around 15 participants.

During a first aid training session in NZ, there isn't much chance of getting hurt because any risky activities will be performed with a simulation dummy. The physical requirements for this role are also low; there is some light lifting and carrying of demonstration dolls, but the dolls themselves are not particularly heavy.

Most of the time, first aid trainers have to go to the group's location to train and test them. This can mean long trips and maybe a place to stay the night. Keeping this in mind, those who teach first aid need to have access to their own vehicles or other means of transportation so that they can bring the necessary supplies to the classes they teach. The hours can typically happen during usual office hours, i.e., 9 am to 4 pm, but the working days may not be consistent. There is a possibility that some first aid trainers in NZ will be required to work nights and weekends.

First aid trainers should always wear a uniform, which is usually a t-shirt with a logo provided by the employer. Other than that, they should wear clothes that are easy to move in and aren’t too tight.

Experience
In addition to having the required first aid qualifications, one does not need to have any specific experience in order to become a first aid trainer. When teaching, personal anecdotes can be extremely helpful, and prior experience in organisations such as the Scout Association or military cadets can be beneficial but is not required.

Possible Employers:

• Private companies and other organisations may hire self-employed First Aid trainers.
• Local councils.
• Hospitals and paramedic departments.
• Establishments of education that are either private or non-traditional.

Career Progression
There are not many opportunities for advancement in a career as a first aid instructor. A significant number of trainers eventually go on to found their own companies and work for themselves. It is difficult to climb the corporate ladder without taking on more administrative responsibilities at some point.
Some people who teach first aid go on to study paramedicine, while others teach first aid as a side gig to support a cause they care about. As a result of the high demand for first aid trainers all over the world, this profession provides an excellent opportunity for travel.

Other names for first aid trainers

• Emergency Aid Instructor
• First Response Trainer

What’s next?
Now that you’ve read this blog post and you’ve reached this part, it should be easier to understand whether you’re open for the post of a First Aid trainer job in New Zealand. But first, you must make sure you cover the basics by signing up for legitimate courses and experiences that’ll help you get the certification. 

Get in touch with us to find out more.

FAQs
Who is a First-Aid Trainer?

• A first-aid trainer is someone qualified to teach first-aid and assess proficiency in providing emergency care.
• They instruct people on how to respond during emergencies and administer basic medical attention until professional help arrives.
• Responsibilities include delivering presentations, maintaining equipment, and certifying qualified trainees.

Salary and Skills

• The average salary for a first-aid trainer in New Zealand is $65,480 annually, with a range of $48,069 (entry-level) to $80,137 (senior level).
• Trainers need strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively instruct diverse audiences.
• Patience, adaptability, and a willingness to work non-standard hours are valuable assets.

Work Environment

• First-aid trainers typically work indoors in various locations like community centers or classrooms.
• The physical demands are low, but the job requires travel and occasional overnight stays.
• Trainers usually have their own transportation to carry supplies to teaching locations.
• The dress code is typically casual with a company-provided uniform.

Experience and Career Path

• Prior experience is not mandatory, but personal anecdotes and backgrounds in organizations like scouts can be beneficial.
• First-aid trainer certifications are necessary for the role.
• There's limited room for traditional promotions, but trainers can venture into self-employment or paramedicine careers.
• Travelling opportunities exist due to the global demand for first-aid trainers.

Other Names for First-Aid Trainers

• Emergency Aid Instructor
• First Response Trainer

Next Steps

• Consider if the role aligns with your interests.
• Pursue relevant qualifications and certifications to become a first-aid trainer.​