Field           Health

Republication of First Aid Skill Standards

Subfield	Domain	ID
Health Studies	First Aid	41051, 41052, 41053

The Education, Health and Community Industry Skills Board has republished the skill standards listed above.

Summary

Education, Health and Community ISB has removed reference of First Aid as a Life Skill document from the assessment specification and resource sections in the above skill standards. Concern was shared with the ISB from various parts of the sector that embedding mandatory reference to a document that does not sit within established clinical governance or evidence-review frameworks introduces risk to consistency, stability and practice across first aid education in New Zealand.

The replacement of First Aid as a Life Skill document with the Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) guidelines was discussed and confirmed with the Association of Emergency Care Training Providers.  This was further supported by industry organisations that this peak body represents, in April 2026.  The ANZCOR guidelines, published in New Zealand by the New Zealand Resuscitation Council, are based on international research and are trusted as the main source for first aid and basic life support in Australia and New Zealand. Using these guidelines ensures training and assessments are reliable and consistent.

Main changes

· Reference to the First Aid as a Life Skill document has been removed from the assessment specifications and resources sections in all three skill standards.  This document has been replaced with the ANZCOR guidelines.

· Standard setting body information was updated to Education, Health and Community ISB.