The difference is scope: HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the full one-day first aid course, with CPR as one component of it, while HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is the shorter CPR-only course. Completing HLTAID011 gives you first aid including CPR; completing HLTAID009 gives you CPR by itself.
The two names get used loosely by people who just need “a first aid certificate”, and the mix-up matters: booking the wrong one can leave you short of a workplace requirement. This guide sets out what each unit covers, how they overlap, which one common roles actually need, and what each costs at ALIT.
What each course is
HLTAID011 is the current national first aid unit for the general workplace. It replaced the older HLTAID003, and it is what most Australian employers mean when they ask for a “first aid certificate”. ALIT’s guide to what HLTAID011 Provide First Aid covers breaks the unit down.
HLTAID009 is the CPR-only unit: the training day, the assessment evidence and the statement of attainment all relate to resuscitation — the DRSABCD action plan, compressions and ventilations, and use of an automated external defibrillator. ALIT’s guide to what HLTAID009 Provide CPR covers explains that course in the same detail.
What HLTAID011 includes that HLTAID009 does not
The CPR content is essentially shared: both units require CPR performed to Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines. What HLTAID011 adds is everything around resuscitation — assessing a casualty, managing bleeding and shock, burns, fractures and sprains, envenomation, choking, and the aftermath: incident reporting, consent, privacy and the duty-of-care framework a workplace first aider works within.
Put simply, HLTAID009 answers the question “can you keep a person alive until an ambulance arrives?” HLTAID011 answers that question plus “can you manage the most common injuries and illnesses you will meet until help comes?” That difference drives the duration: CPR can be taught and assessed in hours, while the full first aid course needs a day.
A side-by-side comparison
Here is how the two courses differ on the points people actually compare:
- Scope — HLTAID009: resuscitation only (DRSABCD, compressions and ventilations, AED use). HLTAID011: resuscitation plus the full first aid conditions — bleeding, shock, burns, fractures, sprains and strains, choking, envenomation, poisoning, and medical emergencies such as stroke and seizure.
- Duration — HLTAID009: a half-day session. HLTAID011: a full one-day course.
- Assessment — both are practical and scenario-based; the full course adds casualty scenarios across a wider range of conditions.
- Who asks for it — CPR-only when a role lists annual CPR currency (some health, sport and education positions); full first aid when an employer or regulator asks for a first aid officer or a “first aid certificate”.
- Renewal rhythm — convention refreshes the full certificate around every three years and CPR annually.
Which one does your role need?
It depends on the requirement in front of you. Employers asking for a workplace first aid officer, or any role listed as needing a “first aid certificate”, almost always mean HLTAID011. Roles that specifically require annual CPR evidence — some health, sport and education positions — accept HLTAID009 for that refresh. If you are studying a qualification that embeds first aid, such as security operations, the embedded unit is the full HLTAID011, not the CPR-only short course. Those roles are listed in ALIT’s guide to who needs CPR certification in Australia.
When in doubt, ask whoever set the requirement to name the unit code. “First aid” and “CPR” get used interchangeably in job ads, and the unit code settles it immediately. ALIT’s guide to whether HLTAID009 is the same as CPR certification covers the naming confusion from the other direction.
Cost and duration at ALIT
At ALIT, HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is listed at $160.00 over one day at the West Melbourne campus, with weekly intakes — the HLTAID011 course page carries the current dates. HLTAID009 Provide CPR is listed at $75.00 over 3.5 hours on campus, also with weekly intakes, on the HLTAID009 course page. Fees and schedules change between intakes, so check the course page before booking.
Renewal: the two run on different clocks
Industry practice renews the full first aid statement around every three years while expecting CPR to be refreshed annually, following Australian Resuscitation Council guidance. In practice that often means HLTAID011 graduates redo the CPR component each year and the full course every third year — ALIT’s guide to how often CPR training needs to be redone explains the cycle. Your employer or regulator may set stricter intervals, so confirm what applies to your role.
Can you start with CPR and upgrade later?
Yes, and it is a common path. Many people complete HLTAID009 first — for a job that only asks for CPR — then upgrade to HLTAID011 when a later role requires the full certificate. Because the CPR content overlaps, the upgrade is mostly the non-resuscitation first aid material and its scenarios, delivered across the one-day course.
Is CPR included in HLTAID011?
Yes, CPR is included in the HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a core component of this nationally recognised unit of competency, which covers the skills and knowledge required to recognise and respond to life-threatening emergencies, including performing CPR on adults, children, and infants.
When you complete HLTAID011 at ALIT (RTO 45156), you will be trained and assessed in CPR as part of the one-day course. This means you graduate with the ability to perform CPR in a workplace or community setting, in addition to other first aid skills such as managing bleeding, fractures, and choking emergencies.
What CPR skills does HLTAID011 cover?
HLTAID011 includes the following CPR-related competencies:
- Performing CPR on an adult, child, and infant
- Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Applying the correct compression-to-breath ratio (30:2 for adults)
- Assessing an unconscious casualty and checking for breathing
- Placing an unconscious, breathing person in the recovery position
- Responding to choking emergencies in adults, children, and infants
These skills are assessed through practical demonstration, where you perform CPR on a training manikin under the supervision of a qualified trainer. The assessment also includes a written component to confirm your understanding of the procedures and the legal considerations around providing first aid.
Who needs HLTAID011 in Australia?
HLTAID011 is required or recommended for a wide range of workers and volunteers in Australia, including:
- Childcare and education workers — required under the National Quality Framework (NQF) for early childhood educators
- Security officers — included as a core unit in the CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations
- First aid officers in workplaces — required by Safe Work Australia guidelines
- Community services workers — expected for roles involving direct client contact
- Construction and trades workers — required under many WHS policies
- Sports coaches and fitness instructors — required by most sporting organisations
For a full breakdown, see our guide on who needs a first aid certificate in Australia.
What about HLTAID012 (education and care setting)?
HLTAID012 is Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting. It builds on HLTAID011 and adds specific skills for managing medical emergencies in childcare and school environments, including:
- Managing asthma and anaphylaxis in children
- Responding to conditions specific to infants and young children
- Following ACECQA and state-based regulatory requirements for education and care settings
If you work in childcare or education, HLTAID012 may be the more appropriate unit. For general workplace first aid, HLTAID011 is sufficient. Confirm current requirements with your employer or the relevant state authority.
FAQ
Is HLTAID009 included inside HLTAID011?
The CPR content is: HLTAID011 trains and assesses CPR to the same Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines. You finish HLTAID011 with CPR competence; you do not receive a separate HLTAID009 statement unless you complete that course on its own.
Which course do I need for childcare work?
Education and care roles typically point to HLTAID012, the education and care setting variant of first aid, rather than HLTAID011 — check which unit your service or regulator requires before booking.
How long does each take?
At ALIT, HLTAID011 runs one day; HLTAID009 runs 3.5 hours. Current schedules are on each course page.
Does HLTAID011 expire?
Statements do not lapse as documents, but employers and regulators treat first aid currency as around three years, with CPR refreshed annually. Confirm the interval your workplace applies.
Can I do HLTAID011 with no prior first aid experience?
Yes. The course assumes no prior training and builds from the basics through to scenario assessment.
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