The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has announced it has received National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) funding to translate its life-saving Truckie First Aid program into multiple languages.
Since October 2023, 1,500 truck drivers have completed the course, with drivers who have English as a second language soon able to access the training more easily.
The training, alongside St John Ambulance Australia, will continue to be rolled out this year.
Supported by the Australian government, the funding comes from the NHVR as part of its Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).
The NHVR’s acting executive director of corporate affairs Steve Smith says 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,” he says.
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark confirmed the importance of the program to NatRoad members.
“Every day there are thousands of trucks on our roads across the country, including regional and some very remote stretches of road. Truck drivers are often first on the scene of an accident, when every second counts,” he says.
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“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 tailored to the audience.
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,” he says.
Truckie First Aid is a free training that takes 30-40min, is available online to everyone, everywhere, even on your phone at a rest stop.
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