Beyond The Bandage

Susan

Beyond the Bandage is the official podcast from ABC First Aid, designed to support training partners, industry professionals, and organisations working in first aid training, health and safety across Australia. Hosted by experienced training leaders, the podcast explores industry insights, compliance updates, practical business strategies, and marketing ideas to help training providers grow and deliver high-quality learning outcomes. Each episode features conversations with industry experts, training professionals, and business leaders who share real-world insights on maintaining quality training, navigating regulatory change, and building successful training businesses. Host Name(s)Jeff IrvineDee Heffernan Company NameABC First Aid Podcast Category / TopicEducation / Vocational Education & Training (VET)Business Development for Training ProvidersFirst Aid, Health & Safety Professional Development  Target Audience First aid training providersVocational education and training (VET) professionalsTraining partners and trainersRTO owners and managersCompliance and education professionalsBusinesses delivering workplace health and safety trainingLinks to Website / Businesshttps://abcfirstaid.com.auhttps://abcpartnerships.com.au

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 4: First Aid Training behind the scenes, package updates and NIFAT

    What does quality first aid training actually look like, and are increasingly shorter courses affecting student confidence and real-world outcomes? In this episode of Beyond the Bandage, the ABC First Aid team sits down with Andy Panes, founder of the National Institute of First Aid Trainers, better known as NIFAT. With more than 15 years of experience running his own business and supporting first aid trainers throughout Australia, Andy brings extensive knowledge across first aid education, assessment, compliance and professional development. Andy has also contributed at an industry level through the First Aid Industry Reference Committee with SkillsIQ, including helping shape updates to Australia’s first aid units of competency. Throughout the conversation, Andy discusses: • His journey into emergency care and first aid training • How Australia’s first aid units of competency are developed • Why changing a unit can affect the entire VET sector • Whether CPR competency can be credit transferred into a first aid course • Why competency units technically do not expire • The importance of professional development for trainers • What separates an average trainer from a great trainer • Cognitive overload and why trainers should remove unnecessary information • Whether first aid courses are becoming too short • The balance between online learning and face-to-face training • Why student confidence should matter more than course duration • The increasing pressure of price and time competition • The challenges facing trainers and assessors • The upcoming IFAT Conference in Adelaide • Why keeping first aid education simple can produce better outcomes Andy also explains why a strong trainer is not necessarily the person who shares the most information. Instead, it is someone who understands what students genuinely need to remember when an emergency occurs. This is an important discussion for first aid trainers, RTO owners, assessors, workplace safety professionals and anyone responsible for delivering quality first aid education. Subscribe to Beyond the Bandage for more conversations exploring the real people, experiences and impact behind first aid. 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Bandage 00:23 Meet Andy Panes from NIFAT 01:18 Andy’s introduction to emergency care 02:21 Inside the First Aid Industry Reference Committee 04:05 Why changing competency units is so complicated 06:25 Will first aid units change again soon? 08:06 CPR credit transfers and competency requirements 09:34 Do first aid and CPR certificates expire? 11:01 NIFAT’s approach to recent CPR training 12:07 Why Andy created NIFAT 13:43 Growing NIFAT to more than 800 members 14:47 Why professional development matters 16:32 Updating a certificate is not professional development 18:44 What makes a great first aid trainer? 20:03 Why trainers should remove the fluff 21:42 Are first aid courses becoming too short? 24:02 The problem with assessment-only courses 26:07 Why fewer trainers want shortened classes 28:20 Student outcomes should determine course duration 30:03 Eight-hour courses and cognitive overload 31:31 Finding the right blended-learning model 33:34 When less training can produce better results 35:02 The pressure of price and time competition 37:35 Can the first aid industry agree on a standard? 39:06 Why regulation is unlikely to solve everything 41:01 The most competitive area of first aid training 43:01 Why high-quality trainers still stand out 45:06 Engaged trainers and professional development 46:17 The upcoming IFAT Conference in Adelaide 48:03 Conference speakers and practical workshops 50:02 Andy’s final advice for first aid trainers #BeyondTheBandage #ABCFirstAid #FirstAidTraining #FirstAidTrainer #NIFAT #NIFATConference #FirstAidEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #RegisteredTrainingOrganisation #RTO #VocationalEducation #WorkplaceSafety #CPRTraining #FirstAidCompliance #TrainerDevelopment

  2. Jul 3

    Episode 3: Mental Health in Construction with MATES in Construction | Beyond the Bandage

    Content Warning: This episode discusses mental health, suicide prevention and personal lived experiences. Please take care while watching and reach out for support if needed. In this episode of Beyond the Bandage, ABC First Aid goes beyond physical first aid and into the real conversations that can help save lives. We’re joined by Justin from MATES in Construction, a suicide prevention charity supporting workers across the construction industry and their families. Justin shares his personal journey, his passion for mental health advocacy, and the simple but powerful message behind MATES: notice when someone is struggling, have the conversation, and help connect them to support. This episode explores the pressures of the construction industry, why mental health needs to be treated with the same seriousness as physical safety, and how checking in on a mate can make a life-changing difference. From personal stories to practical advice, Justin reminds us that you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to care enough to turn up, listen, and help someone take the next step. If this episode brings anything up for you, please reach out to someone you trust or connect with a professional support service. Please like, share and subscribe to support future episodes of Beyond the Bandage. 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Bandage 00:00 Introducing Justin from MATES in Construction 00:00 What MATES in Construction does 00:00 Why construction needs mental health support 00:00 Justin’s personal story and connection to the industry 00:00 The power of authenticity and real conversations 00:00 Why mental health is part of workplace safety 00:00 How to notice when a mate is struggling 00:00 You do not need to fix them, you just need to listen 00:00 Support pathways and case-by-case help 00:00 Young workers, suicide risk and industry awareness 00:00 Why checking in once is not always enough 00:00 The importance of trust, consistency and showing up 00:00 How MATES is making a difference across industries 00:00 The role of schools and the next generation 00:00 Listening as one of the most powerful tools 00:00 Justin shares his poem and his “why” 00:00 Who looks after Justin? 00:00 Final thoughts and episode wrap-up Key Talking Points MATES in Construction is built around suicide prevention and supporting workers across the construction industry. The episode connects first aid with mental health, showing that helping someone goes beyond physical injuries. Justin shares how a boss consistently checking in on him helped open the door to getting support. The conversation highlights that people do not need to have all the answers to help someone. Listening, noticing changes and showing care can be enough to start. Mental health is discussed as part of workplace safety, especially in a high-pressure industry like construction. Justin’s poem becomes one of the most powerful moments of the episode, capturing the heart behind his work and the importance of helping a mate. YouTube Tags ABC First Aid, Beyond the Bandage, MATES in Construction, mental health in construction, suicide prevention, construction industry mental health, first aid podcast, workplace safety, psychosocial hazards, checking in on mates, men’s mental health, construction workers, mental health awareness, first aid training, Australian construction industry, support your mates, workplace wellbeing, mental health conversations, suicide prevention Australia Hashtags #BeyondTheBandage #ABCFirstAid #MATESInConstruction #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #ConstructionIndustry #WorkplaceSafety #MensMentalHealth #FirstAidTraining #SupportYourMates

  3. Apr 24

    Episode 2: Saved by Her Students: The First Aid Story That Changed Everything

    In this powerful episode of Beyond the Bandage, we sit down with Louise Jones—an experienced first aid trainer whose life came full circle in the most extraordinary way. After years of teaching CPR and life-saving skills, Louise became the one who needed them most… suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while 26 weeks pregnant, right in front of her students. What happened next is a story of courage, training, and impact that reaches far beyond one life. This episode dives into:  The real-world importance of CPR training  The ripple effect of saving a life  Confidence vs hesitation in emergency situations  Why AED access needs to change across Australia ⏱️ Key Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction What this episode is about: real impact, real stories, real lives saved.  02:00 – Louise’s Background From swimming and bronze medallion at 13 to becoming a lifelong first aid educator.  06:00 – The Moment Everything Changed Louise suffers a sudden cardiac arrest while pregnant in front of her students.  10:30 – Students Save Her Life Year 9 students perform CPR, teachers step in, and an AED is used—despite uncertainty due to pregnancy.  16:00 – The Ripple Effect of CPR One life saved becomes five lives impacted—Louise, her daughter, and three grandchildren.  22:00 – Why CPR Training Matters More Than You Think It’s not just about one person—it’s about families, communities, and future generations.  28:00 – Storytelling in First Aid Training How too many stories can distract—and how to strike the right balance to build confidence.  35:00 – Building Confidence to Act Why confidence—not perfection—is the most important outcome of training.  42:00 – The Reality of Outcomes Not every situation ends in survival—and why “doing your best” still matters.  50:00 – The AED Mission Louise’s role in pushing public access defibrillators across Australia—and why we still need more.  58:00 – The Biggest Gap: AEDs in Homes Most cardiac arrests happen at home—so why don’t more people have AEDs?  1:05:00 – Industry Challenges & Collaboration Why first aid training should be about saving lives—not competing for profit.  1:12:00 – Final Message “Any attempt at CPR is better than none.”  💡 Key Takeaways CPR saves more than one life – the ripple effect can impact entire families and communities. Confidence is everything – people don’t need to be perfect, they just need to act. Do not hesitate – especially when it comes to using AEDs or performing CPR. Training should be practical, not theoretical overload – hands-on experience builds real readiness. AED accessibility is still a major issue – especially in homes where most incidents occur. Any action is better than no action – even calling emergency services is a critical first step. 🎯 Memorable Quote “Any attempt at CPR is better than none.”

  4. Mar 15

    Episode 1: Beyond the Bandage - Training, Trust and Business Growth

    Welcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Bandage, the ABC First Aid podcast. In this launch episode, hosts Jeff Irvine and Dee sit down with Susan Devlin, CEO of ABC First Aid, and Andy Parker from Understand Your Group to explore the future of first aid training, compliance, leadership and business growth. Susan shares her journey into the training industry, why high-quality first aid education is critical, and how the sector has evolved over the years. She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at how ABC First Aid supports its training partners and why professional development, compliance and people remain central to success. Andy then joins the conversation to unpack the marketing and business growth side of the industry, discussing AI, brand trust, digital marketing strategies and why returning to the fundamentals may be the most powerful strategy for businesses heading into 2026 and beyond. This podcast series has been designed for industry, by industry, giving training providers, partners and business leaders access to practical insights, real experience and expert perspectives. What You'll Learn in This EpisodeSusan Devlin’s journey into the training and safety industryWhy quality first aid training matters more than everHow the first aid training landscape has changedThe impact of blended learning and express training modelsHow ABC First Aid supports partners behind the scenesWhy professional development and currency are criticalHow training providers can improve client retentionMarketing challenges facing small businesses todayThe role of AI in business and marketingWhy brand trust and storytelling matterThe leadership mindset required for business growth in 2026

    Episode 1: Beyond the Bandage - Training, Trust and Business Growth
  • 4 Episodes

About

Beyond the Bandage is the official podcast from ABC First Aid, designed to support training partners, industry professionals, and organisations working in first aid training, health and safety across Australia. Hosted by experienced training leaders, the podcast explores industry insights, compliance updates, practical business strategies, and marketing ideas to help training providers grow and deliver high-quality learning outcomes. Each episode features conversations with industry experts, training professionals, and business leaders who share real-world insights on maintaining quality training, navigating regulatory change, and building successful training businesses. Host Name(s)Jeff IrvineDee Heffernan Company NameABC First Aid Podcast Category / TopicEducation / Vocational Education & Training (VET)Business Development for Training ProvidersFirst Aid, Health & Safety Professional Development  Target Audience First aid training providersVocational education and training (VET) professionalsTraining partners and trainersRTO owners and managersCompliance and education professionalsBusinesses delivering workplace health and safety trainingLinks to Website / Businesshttps://abcfirstaid.com.auhttps://abcpartnerships.com.au

Information

  • Creator
    Susan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond The Bandage
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Bandage