Most States and Territories follow the model national Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) legislative framework. Victoria and Western Australia have different WHS acts and regulations with similar aims that apply within their respective jurisdictions.

In all states and Territories, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) are required to undertake a risk assessment of their business activities and to take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise the identified risks. WHS regulations place specific obligations on an employer in relation to first aid, including requirements to provide first aid equipment and ensure each worker at the workplace has access to facilities for administration of first aid.

Code of Practice

To assist organisations in meeting their WHS obligations, there are guidance documents called Codes of Practice. For first aid, most states and territories follow the model national code of practice, First Aid in the Workplace, published by Safe Work Australia. Western Australia and Victoria each have a Code of Practice for first aid applicable for their state. 

All first aid codes of practice include information on:

• Determining first aid provision, based on the nature of the work and the work environment.
• Contents of workplace first aid kits, including the need for additional modules in certain situations.
• Other first aid equipment and facilities that may be required.
• The recommended number of trained first aiders.
• First aid training requirements, including the frequency of refresher training.

Provision of first aid in the workplace  This includes: 

• Following employers/organisations policies and procedures in first aid management
• Safe work practices and WHS (Workplace Health and Safety) legislation ➢ Industry practice, site specific regulations and requirements. 

  Use of equipment and work, health, and safety 

• The use of first aid equipment, safety of you, the casualty, and bystanders
• Infection control and standard precautions
• CPR and appropriate use of defibrillator / Automated external defibrillator (AED)