First Aid Management Policy

1. PURPOSE

This Policy outlines the commitment of DCIRS Community Care (“DCIRS”) to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees by providing adequate first aid facilities, trained personnel, and procedures in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations).

This Policy will commence from 24 November 2025. It replaces all other first aid management policies of DCIRS (whether written or not).

2. APPLICATION AND SCOPE

This Policy applies to employees, agents, supports, and contractors (including temporary contractors) of DCIRS. It establishes how DCIRS will manage its first aid practices and resources for workers in the different environments they work in.

This Policy does not form part of any worker’s contract of employment or service.

3. DEFINITIONS

First Aid Officer is a worker trained at a minimum Level II First Aid and selected by the employer to administer First Aid in its workplaces. A First Aider Officer must keep a current nationally recognised first aid qualification and may be paid an allowance where an Award requires it.

4. POLICY

First Aid Statement

DCIRS is committed to providing a safe workplace in accordance with its safety obligations. The primary method for determining first aid requirements is through the company’s risk assessments. Risk assessments help to inform DCIRS of potential injuries or illnesses associated with the job roles and activities carried out by workers.

Determining First Aid Response and Resourcing

DCIRS’s Risk Management Policy informs the nature of risk identification and assessment across all types of risks. All workers are encouraged to participate in this process and to inform their manager of first aid risks within their working environment.

Risk assessments support DCIRS in determining:

• The risk profile for first aid management which informs

  • the type, quantity, and location of first aid resources required; and

  • the number of qualified First Aid Officers for the workplace.

• The accessibility of first aid for workers including mobile workers.

• How the company will consult, inform, instruct, train, and supervise its workforce to ensure understanding of first aid practices and accessibility of first aid resources and personnel.

• How and when reviews of workplace risks will occur to ensure first aid measures and resources are

• adequate and effective.

First Aid needs should be reviewed:

• as employee numbers change

• when new work practices or hazards are introduced

• where an incident requiring first aid occurs; and

• in accordance with new information relating to risk or first aid measures.

The Role of First Aid Officers

A First Aid Officer is a first aider selected by DCIRS to perform first aid, assess if medical assistance is required, and maintain first aid resources for the company. Any qualified first aider can perform first aid in the workplace but is not considered a First Aid Officer for the purposes of this Policy. First Aid Officers will be clearly identified by accessible electronic means.

The general role of a First Aid Officer is to:

• Provide first aid treatment to workers and assess when medical assistance is required.

• Maintain first aid kits and resources, monitoring and documenting their usage.

• Conduct periodic checks on first aid kits and resources.

• Keep records of first aid treatment.

To be eligible for this role, an employee must be onsite for the majority of the working week and hold and maintain a nationally recognised qualification.

A First Aid Officer or other worker with an accredited First Aid qualification may be required to undertake further training for specific workplace risks or known medical conditions. Confidentiality of personal information must be upheld by everyone performing first aid duties in the workplace.

The Provision and Stocking of First Aid Kits

DCIRS will provide first aid kits in its offices and vehicles, and each mobile worker will be issued with a vehicle first aid kit. Vehicle kits must be accessible but stowed to prevent the kit from becoming a projectile while driving. First aid kits remain the property of DCIRS and must be returned at the conclusion of a worker’s employment.

To ensure kits are adequately stocked, workers must inform a First Aid Officer promptly when they use any item from a first aid kit. It is a worker’s responsibility to maintain vehicle kits and report items used for their prompt replacement.

First aid stations in offices will be in a prominent position and identifiable with first aid signage.

Remote and Isolated Workers

Due to the nature of work, it may not always be reasonable for a first aider to be accessible. Support workers and others working remotely are responsible for their own safety and must exercise their own duty of care. Where first aid is required over and above what is reasonably available within provided kits, workers should seek prompt medical care. This may include calling 000.

Responsibilities and Breaches of this Policy

It is a worker’s responsibility to work safely and to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others in the workplace. Remember that first aid is a last resort. Workers must promptly report safety matters according to the Incident and Risk Reporting Policy.

Workers must adhere to the information in this Policy, and any other instruction or training provided by DCIRS regarding first aid management and practices.

Never inhibit or prevent a First Aider from performing their duties, including the administering of first aid. First aid resources remain the property of DCIRS and are only for first aid needs in the workplace.

Workers must comply with the requirements in this Policy. In the case of DCIRS employees who are found to have breached this Policy, they may be subjected to disciplinary action. The type and severity of the disciplinary action will depend upon the circumstances of the case and the seriousness of the breach. In serious cases, this may include termination of employment.

In the case of contractors or agents who are found to have breached this Policy may have their contracts with DCIRS terminated or not renewed.

5. ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

• Workplace Health and Safety Policy

• Incident and Risk Reporting Policy

• Emergency Preparedness Procedure

• First Aid Procedure

• Incident Report Form

• Incident Investigation Form

• First Aid Register

6. VERSION AND REVIEW INFORMATION

DCIRS reserves the right to amend and vary this policy from time to time.

Version 1.0: 24 November 2025 | Reviewed 24 November 2028