NatRoad has received fresh funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), as part of its Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVNSI), to bolster its online Truckie First Aid program.
The program was developed alongside St John Ambulance back in 2023, with more than 1,500 truck drivers completing the free first aid course, but now NatRoad plans to expand the program into multiple languages to make it more accessible to a diverse industry workforce.
The NHVR’s Acting Executive Director Corporate Affairs, Steve Smith, said NatRoad is one of 16 grantees that will receive funding as part of a $4.4 million investment towards HVSI projects.
“The delivery of NatRoad’s project will contribute towards making Australia’s roads safer for all users,” Mr Smith said.
Warren Clark, CEO of NatRoad, confirmed the importance of the program to NatRoad members, emphasising the need to expand the array of languages offered.
“Every day there are thousands of trucks on our roads across the country, including regional and some very remote stretches of road,” Mr Clark said.
“Truck drivers are often first on the scene of an accident, when every second counts. The NHVR funding will allow the online first aid training to be translated into multiple languages.
“This will make it easier for drivers with English as their second language to complete the training and be confident in what they learn, while reducing barriers to taking the course in the first place. I’d like to thank the NHVR for their support in extending this life-saving training to even more truck drivers.”
The program combines best practice training principles, with knowledge and skills drawn from the DRSABCD First Aid action plan, and makes them accessible through a free online learning tool.
St John Ambulance Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Adrian Watts, was involved in the development, and acknowledges the significance of the program.
“Courses like this allow us to get First Aid knowledge and skills into the hands of our Australian public in a practical way that relates to their daily work and lifestyle,” Mr Watts said.
Truckie First Aid is a free training that takes 30-40 minutes to complete, available online for everyone, everywhere, and can even be completed on your phone at a rest stop.
For more information, visit truckiefirstaid.org.au.
