First Aid Academy is a locally owned training academy dedicated to providing quality training We create confidence to care.
Our experienced and enthusiastic trainers make the training fun and engaging, so that all first aiders remember the important information when they need it most.
27/10/2025
What a night! 🎉
Big thanks to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce for hosting another incredible Cairns Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards at the Cairns Convention Centre & for bringing our business community together to celebrate what makes Cairns thrive.
🥂 Congrats to all the winners—your hard work shines bright!
It wasn’t our year this year… but we’re fired up for 2026! Watch this space.....
22/10/2025
Cyber Attacks are relentless... QANTAS, Sydney University, Dodo and now also ReadyTech have recently all been affected by cybercrime.
ReadyTech is a software provider for student platforms and First Aid Academy is also on this platform with many other Australian training providers.
To protect all student data, ReadyTech have shut down the training platform, and nobody is able to produce or verify certifications while the cyber-attack gets dealt with. Below is a response from ReadyTech:
Hi First Aid Academy,
We are writing to provide you with an update regarding the ongoing disruption to our VETtrak hosted service.
ReadyTech has since become aware that this is a cyber incident involving its hosted student management system, VETtrak (Platform).
On detecting the incident, we immediately isolated the Platform as a precautionary measure and engaged external experts to assist with managing our response. Our technical teams and specialist experts are actively investigating the nature and cause of this issue and working diligently to restore services.
Customer access to the platform will remain temporarily unavailable. We expect this to continue throughout Friday (17th October). We are working diligently to restore services as quickly and carefully as possible.
At this stage, we are not aware of any impact beyond the affected VETtrak Platform, however we are monitoring closely out of an abundance of caution.
The security and privacy of our customer data is our highest priority. We are focused on identifying whether there has been any unauthorised access to any information we hold.
As a precaution, ReadyTech has notified the Australian National Office of Cyber Security (NOCS) and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and continues to work with them as part of our response to the incident.
We sincerely apologise for the disruption and concern that this incident is causing. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we work through this issue.
Kind regards,
The VETtrak Team
As soon as we get updated, we will let everybody know. In the meantime, Online Training and Face to Face Training continues as per normal, Equipment sales or Event Medics have not been affected.
Once the Student system is operational, your certifications will roll out as per normal. Temporary certificates will be offered to make sure you can continue to work.
Kind regards,
Alex van Welderen
CEO - First Aid Academy
20/10/2025
5 stars and rising! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Isabelle’s been racking up rave reviews—and we’re not surprised one bit. Her energy, expertise, and heart make every First Aid session a standout. Whether it’s her clear instruction or her calming presence, students are loving every moment.
Keep shining, Isabelle!
20/10/2025
Our online booking & eLearning systems are still currently down. It is a nationwide outage; we are working with our provider to rectify this as soon as possible.
If you have booked an "Express Course" please still attend your booked practical date even if your eLearning is not complete.
We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.
We can still take bookings over the phone and in-store.
Please call 07 4040 2050 if you have any questions.
17/10/2025
🌿 FNQ Nature Quest | Saturday 18 October
Reconnect. Reflect. Rewild.
As part of Queensland Mental Health Week, come on down for a nature-based wellbeing experience hosted by FNQ Nature Quest — a local charity dedicated to helping people find balance through exploration, presence, and play in the natural world.
This ticketed event is open to all ages and designed to be inclusive, safe, and soul-nourishing. Whether you’re seeking calm, connection, or just a breath of fresh air — come as you are.
💚 Because sometimes, the best way to care for your mind… is to step outside
So proud to be recognised in the Customer Service – Trade, Retail & Services category at the Cairns Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for the second year running.
The Gala’s happening this Friday at the Cairns Convention Centre and we can’t wait to celebrate with the best of the best.
Good luck to all the amazing finalists—and cross your fingers for First Aid Academy! 💛🤞
08/10/2025
💚 Free Community Event – QLD Mental Health Week!
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service is hosting a vibrant gathering on the Cairns Esplanade!
Let’s celebrate wellbeing, support one another, and spark change.
Everyone welcome. No cost. Big impact.
07/10/2025
🎸 Savannah in the Round | 9–12 October | Kerribee Park, Mareeba
Music, mateship, and 24/7 care — we’ve got your back.
As the beats drop and the stars rise over Mareeba, First Aid Academy will be on-site providing 24-hour medical assistance for the entire duration of Savannah in the Round.
Whether it’s a stubbed toe, heat stress, or something more serious — our team is ready to respond with compassion, professionalism, and the “Confidence to Care.”
🩺 Where to find us: Look for the First Aid Academy tent and roaming medics throughout the festival grounds.
💚 Why it matters: Because your safety is our priority, and every good time deserves peace of mind.
05/10/2025
03/10/2025
🌿 Queensland Mental Health Week | 4–12 October
Let’s talk, listen, and support — together.
At First Aid Academy, we’re proud to stand with our community during Queensland Mental Health Week — a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind each other that mental health is just as important as physical health.
This year, we invite you to take three simple steps to support someone who may be struggling:
✅Check in — A simple “How are you really?” can open the door to connection.
👂🏼Listen without judgment — You don’t need to have all the answers, just your presence.
👏🏼Encourage support — Help them find professional help or resources when they’re ready.
For those wanting to deepen their understanding and confidence in supporting others, our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course offers practical skills and knowledge to make a real difference!
Support starts with a conversation. Let’s build a community where care is courageous and compassion is contagious 💚
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First Aid Academy Pty Ltd is an innovative, professional First Aid Training centre. We create confidence to care by providing nationally accredited courses and other services, including sales & hire of rescue equipment as well as provision of first aid provision local events. We cater for a wide variety of local organisations, nationally owned corporate businesses, government agencies, and the general public of Cairns & Far North Queensland.
Our training department, which has been successfully operating since 2005, is headed by Alex van Welderen, an Instructor Trainer (PADI Course Director) with over twenty five years’ experience in training. His team is a highly dedicated and enthusiastic group of instructors who are fully qualified according to standards set out by the Australian Quality Framework (AQF), and hold current certification for the training they are delivering. They hold a current Working with Children Blue Card, as well as the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
“I am proud to head the First Aid Academy, as we are a growing business but we are still small enough to care a lot.”
– CEO Alex van Welderen –
Scope of Services Provided
Training in Health Packages (listed below)
First Aid Kit Restocking & Sales
Sales, Servicing & Hire of Equipment including Advanced Resuscitation (oxygen), Rescue Equipment, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and First Aid Training Material
First Aid provision for Events including Sporting, Community, Charity and Private functions
Public courses are held 6 days per week (excluding public holidays). Visit our online Course Calendar to see dates and times and book when it suits you.
Training can be conducted for groups, either at our training centre or onsite at your business (click here for more information).
Nationally Accredited Courses
HLTAID001 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
HLTAID003 Provide First Aid
HLTAID004 Provide an Emergency Response First Aid Response in an Education and Care Setting
HLTAID005 Provide First Aid in Remote Situations
HLTAID006 Provide Advanced First Aid
HLTAID007 Provide Advanced Resuscitation (Oxygen)
UETTDRRF06 Perform Rescue from a Live LV Panel
Other training programs provided (non-accredited- awarded with a Statement of Attendance)
Airway Management – Training in iGel insertion
Parents First Aid – Infants, Toddlers and Parents
Our Shop
First Aid Academy is a one-stop-shop with a large range of first aid kits (to suit your car, workplace, boat, 4WD etc) and supplies to re-stock first aid kits – enquire or bring in for a free inspection. We also provide a great selection of rescue equipment, ranging from face shields to full Ambulance fit-outs, with some famous brand names like:
FERNO RESCUE EQUIPMENT
LAERDAL RESCUE AND TRAINING EQUIPMENT
AQUATICA OXYGEN BAGS and FIRST AID KITS
ZOLL, LAERDAL, DEFIBTECH-LIFELINE and SAMARITAN DEFIBRILLATORS
FIRST AID ACADEMY (home brand) Pocket masks and face shields
Our service includes finding the right equipment for your business and organising the compulsory yearly service for oxygen and defibrillator equipment. We guarantee the service and maintenance of any of your gear at the best rate possible.
We Have Moved!
Since the end of 2015, First Aid Academy is located at 36 Florence St, Cairns. Our modern training centre is centrally located with good parking facilities and 4 classrooms fitted with the latest media equipment for training. Come in and say hello to our friendly staff, have a coffee, and have a look at our range of first aid and rescue equipment.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. Please contact us for any questions you might have.
