Why Schools Need More Than One First Aid Officer – Spreading the Responsibility

Every school must have at least one trained First Aid Officer on-site — but the real question is:

Is one person really enough?

Between excursions, sick bays, playground supervision, staff absences, and high student numbers, relying on a single first aid-trained staff member is not only risky — it’s non-compliant in practice.

This blog explores why schools should spread first aid responsibility across their team, what’s required under current regulations, and how training multiple staff can improve safety, reduce stress, and support your school’s overall emergency preparedness.

What Is a First Aid Officer?

A First Aid Officer is a staff member trained in providing immediate care in a medical emergency, such as:

CPR for cardiac arrest
Treating minor wounds and injuries
Managing asthma attacks or anaphylaxis
Responding to seizures, head injuries, and playground accidents

In a school setting, they’re also often the one:

Responding to students who feel unwell
Administering medication from health plans
Completing incident reports
Liaising with parents during emergencies

What the Guidelines Say: How Many First Aid Trained Staff Do You Need?

According to WorkSafe Victoria and Department of Education guidelines, the number of first aid-trained staff in a school should be based on:

The size and layout of the school
The number of staff and students
The nature of the activities being conducted (e.g. sport, science labs, kitchen tech)
Time spent off-site (excursions, camps, interschool sports)

There is no legal limit to “one” — and in fact, most schools require multiple trained staff to meet the risk profile of daily operations.

A single First Aid Officer can’t be everywhere at once — and emergencies don’t wait for the right person to be on duty.

5 Reasons to Train Multiple First Aid Officers at Your School

1. Coverage Across the Day

From playground duty to PE classes, staff are spread out. Having multiple trained people ensures there’s always someone nearby to respond immediately.

2. Support During Absences

If your only trained officer is away or off-site, you’re exposed. Having a backup team prevents scrambling to fill the gap.

3. Faster Response Times

When a student collapses on the oval or a teacher has a medical episode in the staffroom, seconds matter. Trained staff nearby can start CPR or manage a medical event while others call for help.

4. Improved Emergency Outcomes

First aid is a team effort. One person can begin CPR while another retrieves a defibrillator, another calls 000, and another supports other students or staff.

5. Reduced Pressure on One Person

First Aid Officers often take on more than they should — from managing minor injuries to serious medical events. Spreading the responsibility supports wellbeing and reduces burnout.

What Training Do First Aid Officers Need?

The minimum standard for schools is usually:

HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid (valid for 3 years)
HLTAID009 – Provide CPR (updated every 12 months)
22578VIC – First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis (as required)
ASCIA Anaphylaxis eLearning and verification (if working with students at risk)
Asthma and Emergency Briefings (for relevant staff in schools and early learning)

AB First Aid also recommends:

Evacuation training (PUAFER005) for key staff
Manual handling training for aides, support workers, or those lifting students

What About School Excursions and Camps?

This is one of the most commonly overlooked areas.

Every excursion must include at least one staff member with current first aid and CPR qualifications.

But what if that person:

Is separated from the group?
Becomes unwell?
Is dealing with another student?

Again — the safest approach is to train more staff, not fewer.

How AB First Aid Supports Victorian Schools

At AB First Aid, we’ve worked with schools across Melbourne and regional Victoria to:

Train multiple staff at once, onsite, in school hours
Support compliance with Department and Ministerial guidelines
Provide practical, hands-on training — not just slide shows
Offer flexible session times to suit timetables and term dates
Deliver scenario-based training that reflects real school incidents

We help schools build confident, capable first aid teams, not just single-point responders.

Need to Train or Refresh Your First Aid Officers?

Let’s get your school covered.

Whether you need CPR refreshers, full HLTAID011 qualifications, anaphylaxis updates, or evacuation training — we can deliver it onsite and with minimal disruption.

Book now or get in touch: