Practical First Aid Skills Every NDIS Support Worker Needs to Know

Practical First Aid Skills Every NDIS Support Worker Needs to Know

As a disability support worker, you spend a lot of time with people who may be at higher risk of certain medical emergencies. Whether you are supporting someone in their home, a community setting, or a day programme, being able to respond quickly and confidently can make a significant difference to outcomes.

This guide covers the core practical first aid skills that every NDIS support worker should be across — not as a replacement for hands-on training, but as a solid reference for what that training should include.

Why First Aid Skills Matter in the NDIS Context

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requires registered NDIS providers to meet certain standards around worker capability, including the ability to respond to health-related emergencies. Many participants live with complex conditions — epilepsy, severe allergies, diabetes, cardiac conditions, and mobility limitations — that can put them at greater risk during a medical event.

Safe Work Australia also requires that employers provide workers with appropriate first aid equipment and training relevant to their workplace. For NDIS support workers, that training should reflect the specific health profile of the people they support.

Responding to a Choking Episode

Choking is one of the more common emergencies in disability support settings, particularly among participants with swallowing difficulties or those who need support with meals.

If a person is choking and cannot speak, cough, or breathe:

• Encourage them to cough if they are able to.
• If coughing is ineffective, deliver up to five firm back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
• If back blows do not clear the obstruction, deliver up to five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre) — place your fist above the navel and below the breastbone, cover it with your other hand, and pull sharply inward and upward.
• Continue alternating between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the obstruction clears or the person loses consciousness.
• If they lose consciousness, call 000 immediately and begin CPR.

For participants in wheelchairs or who cannot stand, technique adaptations may be needed. Your registered first aid training provider should cover these variations as part of a practical course.

Managing a Seizure

Many NDIS participants live with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Knowing how to respond safely is an essential skill for support workers.

During a seizure:

• Stay calm and stay with the person.
• Clear the area of any objects that could cause injury — do not try to restrain the person or put anything in their mouth.
• Cushion their head with something soft if possible.
• Time the seizure from when it starts.
• When the movements stop, gently roll them into the recovery position.

Call 000 if the seizure lasts more than five minutes, if another seizure follows quickly, if the person is injured, if this is their first known seizure, or if they do not regain consciousness within a reasonable time. Always follow the participant’s individual Epilepsy Management Plan if one is in place.

Recognising and Responding to Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate action. Triggers can include foods, insect stings, latex, and certain medications.

Signs include hives or swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and collapse. The person may become pale and floppy very quickly.

If a participant has a known allergy and an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen or Anapen) is available:

• Lay the person flat with their legs raised — do not let them stand or sit up.
• Administer the adrenaline auto-injector to the outer mid-thigh and hold for ten seconds.
• Call 000 immediately.
• A second dose can be given after five minutes if symptoms do not improve and a second injector is available.

ASCIA (the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) provides the national Anaphylaxis Action Plans used across Australia. Every support worker managing a participant with a known severe allergy should be familiar with that participant’s individual ASCIA Action Plan and know where the adrenaline auto-injector is kept.

Performing CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most important skills any first aider can have. The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines recommend the following steps for an unresponsive adult who is not breathing normally:

• Call 000 immediately, or ask someone nearby to call while you start CPR.
• Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest and press down firmly — at least five centimetres deep.
• Deliver 30 compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
• Give two rescue breaths if you are trained and willing to do so. If not, compression-only CPR is effective and is recommended by the ARC.
• Continue the cycle until paramedics arrive, an AED becomes available, or the person begins breathing normally.

If a defibrillator (AED) is available, turn it on as soon as possible and follow the voice prompts. AEDs are designed for use by untrained bystanders and will guide you through each step.

Managing Wounds and Bleeding

Cuts, abrasions, and bleeding injuries occur across a range of support environments. For minor wounds:

• Put on gloves before touching the wound if gloves are available.
• Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean dressing or cloth.
• Elevate the injured limb where possible.
• Once bleeding slows, clean the wound gently under clean running water.

For severe or uncontrolled bleeding, call 000. Keep applying firm pressure and add more dressings on top if the first soaks through — do not remove the original dressing. For serious limb injuries, correct tourniquet application can be life-saving. This is a skill that should be covered in your first aid course.

When to Call 000

Support workers sometimes hesitate to call 000, particularly when working with participants who experience frequent health episodes. As a general rule: if you are unsure, call. Paramedics would rather attend a precautionary call than arrive when it is too late.

Always call 000 for:

• Chest pain or a suspected heart attack
• Difficulty breathing or severe shortness of breath
• Loss of consciousness
• Suspected stroke — use the FAST test: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 000
• Severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
• Uncontrolled or severe bleeding
• Seizures lasting more than five minutes

Keep Your Skills Current

First aid knowledge fades without regular practice. The ARC recommends renewing CPR training annually and full first aid certification every three years. For NDIS support workers, staying current is not just good practice — it is part of your professional duty of care to the people you support.

Whether you are getting trained for the first time or updating an expired certificate, book your first aid training with AB First Aid in Tullamarine. We run practical, hands-on courses designed for real-world settings, including healthcare and disability support work.

References

• Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC). (2021). ARC Guidelines: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Retrieved from https://resus.org.au
• ASCIA. (2023). ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Retrieved from https://www.allergy.org.au
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2022). NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. Retrieved from https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au
• Safe Work Australia. (2022). First Aid in the Workplace: Code of Practice. Retrieved from https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
• Epilepsy Foundation of Australia. (2023). First Aid for Seizures. Retrieved from https://www.epilepsy.org.au