More than 4,000 truck drivers across Australia have now completed NatRoad and St John Ambulance Australia’s free Truckie First Aid online training program, marking a significant milestone in their combined efforts to improve road safety and equip drivers within the trucking and road industry, with the confidence to respond in an emergency.
Developed through a partnership between NatRoad and St John Ambulance Australia, Truckie First Aid was launched in October 2023 to recognise the unique role truck drivers often play as first responders at the scene of road crashes and other medical emergencies. The free online course provides practical first aid knowledge tailored specifically to heavy vehicle operators and can be completed in around 30 minutes.
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said reaching 4,000 trained drivers demonstrated the industry’s strong commitment to improving safety on Australia’s roads.
“Truck drivers travel every corner of Australia, including many remote and regional areas where emergency services can take time to arrive. They’re often among the first people at the scene of a crash, and those first few minutes can make all the difference.”
“Every driver who completes Truckie First Aid comes away better equipped and more confident to step in and provide potentially life-saving assistance in the vital minutes before professional help arrives.”
The milestone follows the continued expansion of the program over the past year, including the introduction of Punjabi, Mandarin, Hindi and Arabic language versions to make the training more accessible for Australia’s diverse road freight workforce. The translations were supported through funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Australian Government.
The Truckie First Aid program covers essential first aid skills, including CPR, how to keep an airway open, managing severe bleeding, operating an automated external defibrillator (AED), and responding to a range of medical emergencies commonly encountered on the road. Developed using St John Ambulance Australia’s nationally trusted first aid expertise and best practice training, it has been designed specially for truck drivers.
Research shows around 67 per cent of truck drivers are likely to experience being first on the scene of a road crash during their careers, highlighting the importance of having the first aid skills to respond safely and effectively.
St John Ambulance Australia’s Director of Partnerships, Fundraising, and Community Impact, Fairlie Tucker highlighted the importance of these critical first aid skills in the immediate minutes after a road crash.
“In an emergency, the first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. A blocked airway can become fatal in as little as four minutes, and for every minute CPR and defibrillation are delayed during a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival decreases by ten per cent (10%).”
“By equipping more truck drivers with first aid skills, we can ensure more people are ready to take action when it matters most, and ultimately help save lives”
Truckie First Aid remains free and available to all truck drivers across Australia. The course can be completed any time online via smartphone, tablet or desktop computer, with participants receiving a certificate on completion.
For more information or to complete the course, visit truckiefirstaid.org.au.
Media contacts
Pure Public Relations
Kate McMahon
0403 991 424
[email protected]
Varsha Kumar
0420 540 589
[email protected]
Mliette Ornelas
St John Ambulance Australia
0450 555 971
[email protected]
