Delivered by Melbourne-based Rhythm First Aid, the course equips parents and carers with life-saving skills, including CPR, and builds confidence to respond to emergencies such as choking, seizures, bleeding, burns, head injuries, drowning and bites.
Training and compliance manager Shayna Nankervis said that with the organisation’s founder and director, Nicole Gleeson, being based in regional Victoria, Rhythm First Aid was eager to bring the course to the Goulburn Valley.
“Something (our founder and director) is really passionate about is closing the gap in accessibility to education and courses like this, to create safer communities for all children, adults, families and businesses across Victoria,” Ms Nankervis said.
“We know that people are asking us at Rhythm First Aid for courses that are more local, so there’s a big barrier in being able to travel down to Melbourne or other venues where we run more ongoing courses.”
Thanks to support from Rabobank’s Community Fund, an initiative that helps to deliver projects that build stronger rural and regional Australian communities, Rhythm First Aid has been able to lower the price of its course for local residents.
“We’re really excited to announce that we have had the support of the Rabobank Community Initiative, which has allowed us to put on some infant and child first aid courses that will be heavily subsidised for families in regional and rural areas,” Ms Nankervis said.
“Through the Rabobank Community Initiative, (the course) is only $20, where it’s normally $155 per person, so we’ve tried to make it as accessible as possible.”
The course, delivered by a team of paediatric nurses, will educate attendees on the up-to-date, evidence-based practices that could save a life.
A key focus of the course is empowering attendees to take action, equipping them with practical skills to perform first aid when it matters most.
“It will be a really safe place to learn in, there are no silly questions, and there’s lots of opportunity for hands-on, practical components of the things we’ll be talking to,” Ms Nankervis said.
“People have a lot of fun through it and walk away feeling really empowered and informed.”
Ms Nankervis said the team would also provide resources and referrals, supporting attendees to keep up-to-date with relevant information around infant and child first aid.
“It’s an evolving place, working in healthcare, with updating guidelines, so we refer people to really reputable resources if they’re needing further information at some point in the future to keep their family safe,” she said.
The infant and child first aid course will be held at the Nagambie Regatta Centre on Thursday, October 15 between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.
To book, visit tinyurl.com/35ar29yc
For more information about Rhythm First Aid, visit rhythmfirstaid.com.au
