Workplace First Aid Requirements Australia 2026: What Every Business Needs to Know

Australian workplace first aid requirements are set by the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations, adopted across most states and territories, and supported by the Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace. This guide cuts through the legislation to give WHS managers, business owners, and HR teams a clear picture of what's actually required in 2026.

The Legal Framework

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (and state equivalents) requires persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others at the workplace. First aid is a specific obligation under this duty.

The Model WHS Regulations (Reg 42) require PCBUs to:

• Provide first-aid equipment that is adequate and appropriate for the workplace
• Ensure an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid
• Ensure workers have access to first-aid equipment at all times while at work

The Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace provides practical guidance on how to meet these requirements. It's not law itself, but it creates a presumption of compliance — and deviation from it requires demonstrating an equally effective alternative.

What Equipment Is Required?

The Code of Practice doesn't prescribe a fixed equipment list. Instead, it requires a workplace-specific first-aid needs assessment that considers:

• The nature of the work and hazards present
• The number of workers and their work patterns (shifts, remote, etc.)
• The size and layout of the workplace
• The distance from emergency medical services
• The number of other people at the workplace (customers, visitors, members of the public)

Based on this assessment, the minimum first-aid kit contents are specified in the Code — but the assessment may require additional equipment beyond the minimum, including AEDs.

When Is an AED Required?

The Code of Practice doesn't mandate AEDs for all workplaces. However, the needs assessment framework means AEDs are increasingly considered necessary first-aid equipment for:

• Workplaces with 50+ workers
• Facilities with significant public access (shopping centres, entertainment venues, gyms, sports facilities)
• Workplaces involving strenuous physical work
• Aged care facilities and healthcare settings
• Workplaces more than 10 minutes from ambulance response
• Commercial buildings subject to the SA AED Act (600m²+ of public floor space in South Australia)

Most WHS consultants in 2026 recommend AEDs for any workplace with 25+ workers or significant public traffic. The question in a coronial inquest or civil negligence case is no longer "was an AED required" but "was it reasonable to have one given the nature of this workplace" — and for most commercial settings, the answer is increasingly yes.

How Many First Aiders Do You Need?

The Code of Practice provides guidance based on workplace type and risk level. As a general guide:

First aiders must hold a current first-aid certificate. The nationally accredited unit HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) is the standard for designated workplace first-aiders, renewed every 3 years with annual CPR refresher (HLTAID009). AED training is included in both qualifications.

First Aid Kit Requirements

Minimum first-aid kit contents under the Code of Practice include:

• Resuscitation face mask or CPR shield
• Disposable gloves (multiple pairs)
• Adhesive dressings in assorted sizes
• Sterile eye pads
• Triangular bandages
• Non-adherent wound dressings
• Conforming bandages
• Wound closure strips
• Scissors and tweezers
• First aid manual or instruction guide

This is the minimum. Higher-risk workplaces, larger workforces, or sites more remote from emergency services will require additional equipment including, in many cases, an AED.

Documentation and Record Keeping

WHS legislation doesn't prescribe specific first-aid records, but the general duty to maintain a safe workplace creates an implicit requirement to document:

• Your first-aid needs assessment and its conclusions
• First-aider names, qualifications, and certificate renewal dates
• First-aid kit inspection and restocking records
• Any first-aid incidents and the response taken
• AED maintenance records including annual testing certificates

These records are what SafeWork inspectors, insurers, and lawyers ask for first. Organisations that can produce them demonstrate due diligence. Those that can't face significant exposure.

State Variations

The Model WHS Act and Regulations have been adopted in all Australian states and territories except Victoria (which has its own OHS Act with broadly similar requirements). South Australia has additional obligations under the SA AED Act 2022. Queensland and NSW are expected to introduce similar AED-specific legislation within 2–3 years — see our Queensland AED guide and NSW AED guide for state-specific detail.

Vectr Medical for Workplace First Aid Equipment

Vectr Medical supplies TGA-approved AEDs, CPR equipment, and medical monitoring devices to workplaces, aged care facilities, and commercial buildings across Australia. Our team of NATA-certified biomedical engineers can advise on AED selection, placement, and annual testing requirements for your specific workplace.

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