Vigil Training College

Construction is a high-risk industry, and in NSW all people who work on a construction site must undergo government-approved safety training. This is known as ‘White Card’ or ‘Construction Induction Training Card’.

In today’s blog, we’ll be looking at the training course behind the construction industry white card — what you’ll learn, how long it takes, where to study, and how to get your card. If you work in the NSW construction industry, (or your work regularly takes you onto construction sites eg, security guards, IT cablers) reading this blog is 3-5 minutes well spent. Let’s get started.

Training course

The mandatory NSW White Card training course generally takes around 6-7 hours and consists of the nationally recognised unit: CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry. The training is delivered face-to-face with a qualified trainer, either in a classroom or via broadcast (eg, Zoom).

Learning materials

The focus of the course is work health and safety (WHS) and the risks and hazards you’ll encounter on any construction site. Specifically, the course covers:

Your WHS responsibilities and duty of care while at work.

Safe work practices in the NSW construction industry.

Using basic safety equipment and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

What to do when you encounter a hazard.

Actions for controlling hazards.

The basics of risk management (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Hazard Control, Risk Monitoring).

Understanding WHS documents (Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), signs and symbols, lock-out tags etc).

How to report a hazard, WHS injury, or incident.

Using basic fire fighting equipment.

How to respond to a range of onsite emergencies (chemical spill, fire, structural collapse, vehicle accident etc).

Training providers

Construction industry white card training in NSW is carried out by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who are vetted and approved by Safework NSW. The RTO must have specialist knowledge of construction, and their assessors and trainers must be actively employed in the industry.

The person who delivers your training course will be a qualified trainer PLUS have a working knowledge of construction. They will have personally encountered the risks and hazards they talk about in the course and will be able to show you real ways to reduce the risk to yourself (and others) while on the job.

Certification cards

White Cards in NSW are issued by SafeWork NSW. After you finish the course, your training provider will give you an application form to complete and then submit this to SafeWork along with your training records. Once processed, your card will be mailed directly to you.

While you are waiting for your White Card to arrive in the mail, you can use your Statement of Training (SOT) certificate (as proof of training to an employer) for up to 60 days.  Cards are usually mailed out within 30 days of training.

NSW White Card FAQs

Got a question about the NSW construction industry induction training card? Here are the questions we get asked the most.

Does my NSW white card expire?

No. As long as you continue working in the NSW construction industry your card is valid.

The initial five-day course is for individuals who want to become Health & Safety Representatives (HSRs). The one-day refresher training course is for individuals who want to renew their skills and knowledge as an HSR.

What is a Health and Safety Representative (HSR)?

The role of the Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is elected and voluntary. The role is primarily to liaise with other staff to identify health and safety issues and convey these to management. HSRs are elected by fellow staff to represent the views of the staff group. HSRs play a key role in prevention of workplace injury and illness, and promotion of good WHS practice. WHS Act does not impose specific obligations on HSRs but provides HSRs with powers and functions.

Do I have to do this course to become an HSR?

Security guards and crowd controllers working in NSW need a current CPR and first aid certificate to get their security operative licences. Our blog unpacks 5 key skills that first aid training will add to your repertoire and your resume.

1. Recognising life-threatening situations

As a security guard you are trained to recognise and respond to suspicious behaviour and critical situations. Your first aid certificate will definitely hone these skills, increasing your situational awareness while teaching you how to identify the signs and symptoms of specific illness and injuries.

This could be anything from a person in the early stages of a stroke, to an intoxicated person who has passed out and their airway is obstructed with vomit.

2. Managing a scene

Most bystanders at the scene of an emergency will automatically assume that a uniformed security guard will be in charge, and your first aid training will give you the skills and confidence to manage the scene until help arrives.

If you are working in or around licensed premises, you may have a large number of staff and bystanders to manage. Alternately, if you are on mobile patrol late at night in an industrial area, it may be just you and the casualty until help arrives.

Whatever the circumstances you’ll need to be able to:

Assess the situation.

Ensure the safety of yourself, bystanders, and casualties.

Locate and assess a sick or injured person’s need for first aid.

Render first aid and CPR if necessary.

Call emergency services.

Inform key site personnel of the situation.

Ensure paramedics and other emergency responders have a clear path to casualties.

3. Rendering first aid and CPR

Being a licensed security guard in NSW can put you in the path of a wide range of medical emergencies, and once you’ve done your first aid course you will be able to recognise (and assist) people who have had a heart attack, stroke, snake bite, allergic reaction, insect or animal bite, impact injury, electric shock, and more.

First aid training is hands-on, so you’ll also know how to use medical grade PPE (eg, masks and gloves), bandage limbs, use a defibrillator, and perform CPR on real people.

That said, sometimes you’ll be attending an emergency scene where there are other trained first aiders onsite. In these instances, it may be more practical for you to deploy the site’s first aid resources, leaving you free to co-ordinate emergency responders and keep bystanders at a safe distance.

Completing the nationally recognised qualification CPP20218 Certificate II in security operations is a great entry point into the NSW security industry.

With this qualification you can immediately apply for a SLED Class 1 security licence and begin working in NSW, but you may not realise that the course also acts as a pathway into higher education and career advancement.

This blog unpacks 10 career pathways for guards in NSW, covering everyone from crowd controllers to security business owners and risk consultants. Let’s take a look.

1. Crowd controller

Crowd controllers work at licensed venues, events, sports grounds, and functions where there are large numbers of people. They are responsible for enforcing a venue’s NSW liquor licence, screening patrons at entry points, and maintaining safety and order.

Crowd controllers in NSW require a Class 1C Crowd Controller Licence, an RSA competency card, and a current first aid certificate.

2. Mobile patrol guard

Security guards on mobile patrol work out of a vehicle and oversee the security of several properties during the course of their shift.

They are responsible for carrying out perimeter checks, responding to alarm triggers and disturbances, and may be required to apprehend trespassers and offenders.

Mobile patrol guards in NSW require a Class 1A Unarmed Guard licence, an unrestricted driver’s licence, and a current first aid certificate.

3. Static guard

Static security guards work inside a building or property and are often assigned to a single entry point, screening visitors and issuing entry passes. They may also be required to patrol the perimeter of the premises, checking windows, doors, and gates.

To work as a static guard in NSW you require a Class 1A Unarmed Guard licence and a current first aid certificate.  Some venues may also require an RSA competency card.

4. Guard dog handler

Guard dogs can be a deterrent for trespassers and very often detect and apprehend offenders. They are assigned to warehouses, industrial estates, construction sites, sports ovals, and known hangouts for drug users and gangs.

As a K9 guard you’ll have a dog (or several) as your partner and be responsible for the dog’s health, wellbeing, and training.

Guard dog handlers in NSW require a Class 1D Guard Dog Handler Security licence, a genuine love of dogs, and a current first aid certificate. You may also require an RSA competency card.

5. Private bodyguard

Most people think of bodyguards as personal protection officers who work for executives, celebrities, and VIPs, escorting them to events and keeping them safe in crowded situations. But bodyguards also protect witnesses to crimes, victims of domestic violence, and money handlers.

Bodyguards in NSW must hold a Class 1B Bodyguard licence plus an advanced first aid certificate. They do not carry firearms.

6. Cash-in-transit guard

Cash-in-transit guards, also known as armoured car escorts, protect cash, jewellery, and valuables in transit from ATMs, banks, and large retailers.

In NSW, cash-in-transit guards require a Class 1F Armed Guard security licence, a first aid certificate, and appropriate weapon’s license. You may also require a medium-rigid driver’s licence.

A lot of people think they only need to know first aid if they work in a high-risk industry, but basic first aid skills can be useful in so many life situations.

In this quick blog, we’ll uncover 9 common injuries and emergencies that can occur just about anywhere, anytime.

We sincerely hope you never encounter any of these situations during your lifetime. But if you think you might remember that first aid skills also include the confidence and situational awareness required to recognise and respond to someone in need.

1. Choking

Choking happens when a foreign body blocks the airway in the throat, and the person cannot breathe. We adults often think of choking hazards as chicken bones or eating your food too quick, but every year small children choke to death on buttons, hair ties, coins, and cheap toys.

Learning how to recognise and respond to a choking emergency is one of the first things you’ll learn in your first aid course, and one of the most useful.

Most adults can remove an obstruction by coughing but children and elderly people require assistance. And if the casualty stops breathing, being able to correctly apply CPR may just save their life.

2. Allergic reaction

Allergies manifest in many ways. Some people break out in rashes and itchy hives, while others have difficulty breathing and require emergency first aid.

A basic first aid course will teach you the signs, symptoms, and management of allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.

3. Car accident

Almost 40,000 people are hospitalised after road crashes each year in Australia. Knowing how to provide comfort and first aid to a victim may be the difference between life and death.

While a basic first aid course doesn’t specifically cover road crash responses, in the real world you may be called to render first aid for cardiac arrest, fractures, burns, or shock.

4. Snake bite

Australia is home to the most venomous snakes in the world, and if you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ll have seen many stories of deadly snakes in backyards, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

According to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, most of the 3,000+ snakebites that occur every year in Australia happen (not in the bush) but near buildings and homes.

First aid for snakebite is simple but very effective, and you’ll learn how to do it properly in your first aid course.

5. Fracture

Breaking your arm or ankle can happen just about anywhere and good first aid will reduce pain, bleeding, and tissue damage around the bone.

Applying correct first aid to a fracture immediately after injury also reduces the likelihood of immediate and ongoing complications.

During your first aid course, you’ll actually be treating fractures and applying splints and bandages.

6. Cardiac arrest

A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating, and if not treated, death can occur with 10 minutes.

Learning to respond to cardiac arrest and perform CPR is at the foundation of any first aid training course as more than 20,000 Australians suffer a cardiac arrest (outside hospital) each year.

7. Drowning

Drowning deaths in Australia increased by 20% during 2021, with a huge increase in the deaths of children under 4 years old.

Your first aid course will teach you how to respond to a drowning incident, and perform CPR on adults, children, and babies.

It is important to know that both adults and children who are in the early stages of drowning rarely call out for help and can die within minutes.

8. Electric shock

The human body is an electrical conductor. If any part of the body comes into contact with a live wire (or another electric current), electricity will quickly flow through the body — burning and damaging the skin, internal organs, and heart.

Learning how to safely approach a victim and deliver proper first aid is critical as you can easily become electrocuted yourself.

9. Burns and scalds

Did you know that every year more than 50,000 Australians are admitted to the hospital after a burn? Burns can occur from the most common household items — hot coffee, hair straightening irons, fireplaces, heaters, and hot water are just a few examples.

Apart from being horrifically painful, burns often leave the victim with lifelong scars and chronic pain.

Learning to recognise and treat the three types of burns is an important part of your first aid training and might just prevent someone you love from suffering a lifelong injury.

Next steps

Many jobs in hospitality, security, and construction require you to complete a government-mandated short course before you can begin working.

RSA, RCG, construction industry white card, first aid and CPR are just a few of the certificates you might require before you can start receiving a paycheck in many industries.

In this short article, we’ll walk you through our Study Now and Pay Later service — a fantastic arrangement allowing you to enroll in any of our courses immediately, and then pay when you can afford it. Let’s take a look.

1. Choose your course

Begin by choosing the NSW short course (or courses) you need to complete. Vigil training currently offers NSW RSA, NSW RCG, first aid, CPR, Construction Industry White Card, and Certificate II in Security Operations.

2. Select the training dates

All our training courses are delivered in our Parramatta classrooms by qualified instructors. Select your preferred dates by clicking the ‘Add to Cart' button and you’ll be transferred to your shopping cart.

If you need to complete more than one course, just click ‘continue shopping’ and add those to the cart as well.

When you’re done, click through to the checkout screen — remembering that increasing your overall spend unlocks more payment options.

PLEASE NOTE: some courses have online modules and assessment tasks that must be completed before attending classes. Please give yourself plenty of time to complete these tasks before the actual training date.

3. Enter your details

Once you’re in the checkout area you’ll need to enter your full name, address, phone number, and email address. We are a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) accredited with the Australian government, and these details will be used to issue your official qualification.

4. Choose your preferred payment provider

Now to the fun stuff. The next screen is where you choose your payment options.

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Do you work at a licensed pub in NSW? Chances are your venue has poker machines as well as other gambling services for patrons. In today’s blog, we’re looking at eleven (11) essentials from the Responsible Conduct of Gambling course (RCG) that all NSW hotel workers should know.

Even if you don’t work directly in the gaming room you are still likely to encounter customers who play the pokies or participate in gambling activities. This blog will help you serve your customers in accordance with the law and reduce the likelihood of problem gambling at the venue.

1. Impacts

For some people, gambling can be addictive and problem gambling can affect the mental health and wellbeing of a player as well as their families, their workplaces, and the general community.

Apart from significant financial impacts, problem gambling can also lead to family breakdowns, domestic violence, relationship problems, emotional distress, even suicide.

The NSW government has laws in place to reduce the harm caused by problem gambling and as a hotel worker, you must abide by your venue’s responsible gambling house policy and harm minimisation procedures.

2. Self-Exclusions

All licensed premises in NSW that have poker machines or other gambling services must offer an exclusion program to their customers. This means that a patron can voluntarily ban (or self-exclude) themselves from the gaming room, or the entire hotel.

A gambling exclusion is legally binding and once in place must be upheld by hotel staff. Your venue will have a house policy and procedures for dealing with excluded patrons, but no matter where you work, always ensure that your customers are treated with dignity and their privacy is upheld at all times.

3. Alcohol

You would know from your RSA course that serving alcohol to a customer who is intoxicated is against the law. But you should also prevent intoxicated patrons from playing poker machines and gambling.

Alcohol can impair a person’s judgment, causing them to bet higher than they normally would, gamble for longer than planned, or become aggressive if they lose money.

Check with your duty manager if you are unsure of your venue’s house policy regarding gaming patrons and RSA.

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When accidents happen on worksites, it’s great to know some basic first aid skills so you can offer medical assistance before the professionals arrive and take over. The good news is that most basic first aid techniques are easy to learn and master and are taught in basic first aid training courses.

Here are the top 8 skills you’ll learn.

1. CPR

One of the most useful first aid skills you will learn is how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Knowing how to give CPR to an injured person can help to save their life.

Over the last few years, the recommended CPR process has changed from administering chest compressions and breathing assistance to just giving hands-only CPR, which focuses on the chest compression’s part only. During your training, you’ll be shown how to give CPR and will be able to practice on a mannequin.

2. How to Make a Splint

Another important first aid skill is how to make a splint that can be used to immobilise a broken bone. This will help the injured party by reducing pain and lessening the severity of the injury until they can be treated by medical professionals.

Most workplaces should have a splint roll in their first aid kits that you can use to make a splint, but if not, one can be made from everyday materials that you have around the worksite. During your first aid course, you will be shown how to make a splint and attach it to the injured person.

3. Dressing a Wound

When someone gets a cut or other abrasion, you must know how to clean and dress the wound. This can help reduce the risk of infection, which in turn reduces the severity of the injury.

During first aid training, you will be shown how to properly clean a wound and then wrap it up correctly using bandages or other materials you have handy.

4. Positioning and Anaphylaxis

If a co-worker has an allergic reaction caused by consuming certain foods, from animal bites, chemical positioning, etc., you need to know what signs to look out for and what first-aid should be administered.

Sometimes a simple allergic reaction can cause anaphylaxis which, if left untreated, can be deadly. The recommended treatment in this situation is to administer an adrenaline injection which requires you to know about the appropriate doses and how to administer it.

5. How to Treat Shock

When accidents and other traumatic events occur, it’s common for the injured party to go into a state of shock. When this happens, the person can act irrationally and make their injuries worse if they are not treated.

Therefore, you must learn to recognise the symptoms of shock and what to do when you see them. In first aid training, you’ll learn how to keep the injured person calm and their blood pressure stable until the paramedics arrive.

Hospitality workers in NSW are required by law to hold a current RSA (Responsible Services of Alcohol) competency card when working at pubs, clubs, casinos, restaurants, and other venues that serve alcohol. And in some cases, where gambling Is present, they need to have completed RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling) training as well.

In today’s blog, we’ll quickly unpack RSA and RCG for hospitality staff: what they are when you need them, and how to make sure you do the right course. Let’s start by taking a look at why people who sell and serve alcohol in NSW need an RSA competency card.

Alcohol and the community

Alcohol is a substance with an enormous social cost to Australians. It is estimated that each year the misuse of alcohol costs the Australian community more than $14.35 billion, with the biggest impacts experienced by business and productivity, traffic accidents, and the criminal justice system.

One of the ways that state governments around Australia reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption is to ensure that it is sold and served by people who have been properly trained.

Because alcohol affects people in different ways, servers need to be able to help their customers drink within appropriate limits and recognise if they are becoming intoxicated.

NSW Responsible Service of Alcohol

The government in NSW has strict criteria for the delivery and contents of responsible service of alcohol courses. And as a student you can expect to learn how to:

Serve alcohol according to standard drink sizes.

Recognise customers who may be intoxicated.

Undertake appropriate ID checks.

Refuse service to intoxicated patrons and minors.

Work according to your venue’s house policy, enforcing NSW liquor laws.

NEED AN RSA COMPETENCY CARD: why not download our RSA course brochure before enrolling.

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Thinking about becoming a licenced security guard or crowd controller in NSW? This quick guide outlines the 9 essential steps to get your Class 1 A, C, E security licence and launch your career. Let’s go.

Step 1: Assess your eligibility

Before you dive into the application process, first make sure you’re eligible to hold a security licence. The NSW government has strict rules about who can, and cannot become a security guard, so here’s a quick overview:

PLEASE NOTE: this is a brief summary only, for full details visit the NSW Police website.

Step 2: Do the training

If there is no good reason why you cannot hold an NSW security licence, your next step is to complete security guard training with an approved RTO (registered training organisation).

Unarmed security guards and crowd controllers in NSW must hold the nationally recognised qualification CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations. You must complete the course pre-requisites that include Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Test (LLN) and hold a current First Aid Certificate. The training can be completed here at Vigil Training College over 3 weeks of classroom-based training (full-time) or part-time on the weekends over 8 weekends.”

Your Cert II qualification can be used to obtain the Class IA, 1C, and 1E Security Licence, but it’s also a pathway towards higher education and training as a Guard Dog Handler (1D), Bodyguard (1B) or Armed Guard (1F).

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Have you been considering doing a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course but feeling a bit apprehensive? Many people have negative perceptions about the role and responsibility of CPR providers, so in today’s blog, we’ll be unpacking 5 common myths that may have been putting you off.

Becoming a CPR provider is both empowering and practical. Not only do you increase your self-confidence and ability to deal with emergency situations, you could also save someone’s life. Let’s take a look at 5 common myths about CPR providers.

MYTH No. 1. I won’t know what to do

Do you worry about encountering an emergency situation and not knowing what to do?  You are not alone. The thought of finding an unresponsive person does sound daunting, but a First Aid and CPR training course will quickly develop your Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) skills and confidence.

Fully accredited CPR courses are hands-on, so you’ll actually be performing CPR and defibrillation on mannequins, as well as responding to simulated emergencies involving real people. You’ll have time to practice what you have learned and (if you continue your training) will review your skills every 12 months.

Once you’re trained, if you do encounter an emergency, you’ll be amazed at how resourceful and resilient you have become.

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Virgil Training College is well-known for providing excellent training courses to its students that will help them stand out. Virgil Training College will cater to your needs and will help to achieve your training goals. Our experienced trainers will guide you throughout this course and teach you practical skills required to perform your duties as first aid officer in your workplace.

Learn more about NSW First Aid Course

In Australia, first aid and CPR training is regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). This ensures that students learn the latest medical procedures and your course certificates are recognised by employers right across Australia.

Each 12-24 months, the structure and content of these nationally recognised first aid courses is reviewed by ASQA, and the changes are incorporated by training providers, also known as RTOS (Registered Training Organisations).

This blog takes a quick look at the most recent changes to first aid and CPR training in Australia and answers the questions we get asked the most — how these changes impact your first aid skills, qualifications, and certificates. Let’s take a look.

When were the latest changes made?

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) reviewed and updated all the first aid and CPR courses at the end of 2020. RTOs including Vigil Training College began reviewing and rewriting their course content in early 2021, and by mid-2021 were already delivering the new materials and issuing updated statement of attainments.

PLEASE NOTE: first aid and CPR qualifications delivered by Vigil Training reflect the very latest (2021) course codes and requirements under the Australian Qualifications Framework. (AQF).

Which first aid and CPR courses were updated?

There were actually updates to about 10 different nationally recognised first aid and CPR courses including the two (2) certificates that are delivered here at Vigil Training College. These were:

HLTAID001 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

HLTAID003 Provide First Aid.

What is different about the new first aid and CPR training courses?

When ASQA makes changes to a nationally recognised qualification the changes can occur in four (4) key areas:

What you learn.

How you are assessed.

Who can teach you.

The course/unit code.

In the latest review, no changes were made to what you actually learned, or to the course handbook you received. There were only changes to the course identifier codes and the way the trainer now assesses your skills. Here they are unpacked.

Changes to course codes

HLTAID001 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation was updated to the new code HLTAID009.

HLTAID003 Provide First Aid was updated to the new code HLTAID011.

Changes to assessment methods

A few changes were made to the course assessment methods but the only real requirement that students may notice is the use of PPE during the assessment. Under the new guidelines, students must respond to a range of first aid and CPR scenarios that involve the use (and wearing) of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE can include pocket masks, shields, gloves, gowns, and goggles.

When you Google any of the training courses, for example, security or first aid, hundreds of providers offer these courses. How do you distinguish the quality education provider?

One way to do that is by looking at their track record and references. Vigil training college has over 800 Google reviews with a 5-star rating. We did not achieve this by accident. We work tirelessly to deliver quality education and support for each of our students. Our students are our story and living testimonials of our success. Read more