💡 First Aid Meets Mental Health: The Course Combo That Could Save a Life in Your Community

Brent Lethbridge
19 hours ago
4 min read

Mental Health First Aid and Provide First Aid Course both Nationally Recognised in Port Macquarie — First Aid meets Mental Health First Aid

Nationally Recognised Courses in Mental Health Support for First Responders and Provide First Aid in Port Macquarie and Mid North Coast

🧠 First Aid Isn’t Just Bandages Anymore

If you’re living or working on the Mid North Coast—from Port Macquarie to Kempsey, Laurieton, or anywhere in between—you already know that emergencies don’t always look the same.

As a professional first responder who was responsible for training other first respnders in for emergancy services and now as a local first aid trainer, I’ve taught hundreds of people from all walks of life and experience levels. Over time, one thing’s become clear: knowing how to handle physical injuries is only part of the story.

People now ask me things like:

“What do I do if someone is having a panic attack on the job site?”“How do I support a colleague who’s shut down emotionally after an incident?”

That’s when I introduce them to a newly-released, powerful, nationally-recognised course combo: HLTAID011 Provide First Aid + the 11244NAT – Course in Mental Health Support for First Responders.

Delivered locally by SALT Training Academy in Port Macquarie, this combo gives you complete confidence to respond to physical and mental health emergencies—whether at work, on the road, at school, or in your community.

🔥 Why First Aid Alone Isn’t Enough Anymore

First aid training (HLTAID011) is a basic essential. It teaches you how to handle:

CPR and unconscious casualties
Bleeding, burns, and broken bones
Asthma, anaphylaxis, and choking
Diabetes and seizures

But in 2025, first responders, teachers, carers, tradies, surf lifesaving volunteers, and even parents of teens are increasingly reporting mental health challenges—and that’s where the standard first aid course falls short.

Think:

Anxiety attacks on construction sites
PTSD among responders
Burnout in healthcare teams
Emotional dysregulation in school settings

These situations need more than a first aid kit—they need trained mental health support.

🧰 Introducing the 11244NAT – Course in Mental Health Support for First Responders

This nationally recognised course is now available in Port Macquarie through SALT Training Academy, and it’s specifically designed to support those in high-pressure, people-facing roles:

👨‍🚒 Paramedics, police, firefighters👩‍🏫 Teachers and childcare workers🧑‍🔧 Construction and trade workers👩‍⚕️ Healthcare, NDIS, aged care professionals🧍Community leaders, volunteers, and support workers, and even parents.

🚑 Note: you don't have to be a professional 'triple zero' worker to be considered a first responder - a first responder can be anyone who is first on-the-scene offering aid in a mental or physical emergency

✅ What the Mental Health Support Course Covers

This course empowers participants to:

Recognise early warning signs of stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD
Build personal emotional resilience
Apply practical stress-reduction strategies
Develop and maintain healthy self-care routines
Encourage peer support and reduce stigma
Start meaningful conversations around mental health
Connect people with appropriate professional help

💻 Flexible Blended Learning: Online + Face-to-Face in Port Macquarie

We know how busy life can get. That’s why SALT Training Academy delivers the 11244NAT course using a blended learning model:

🖥️ Self-paced online theory — complete when it suits you
🤝 90-minute face-to-face practical session — held in our training rooms or at your workplace

This format makes it easy to fit around shift work, family, or travel time, especially if you’re based anywhere across the Mid North Coast.

💡 Why These Two Courses Work Better Together

Combining Provide First Aid with Mental Health Support gives you the tools to handle all kinds of emergencies—whether it’s a physical injury or a psychological crisis.

Let’s look at some examples:

🛠 On a Construction Site in Port Macquarie

A worker collapses from heat stress. You provide first aid. But after recovery, he shows signs of emotional overwhelm—maybe even disclosing recent suicidal thoughts.

Your mental health training helps you:

Check in using safe, supportive language
Stay calm and non-judgemental
Encourage access to professional help
Support your teammate emotionally and practically

🏫 In a School or Childcare Centre

A student has a seizure—you apply first aid. But a classmate is triggered, panicking and crying.

With mental health training, you:

Provide emotional grounding
Help them feel safe
Reassure them in an age-appropriate way
Prevent further escalation
Know how to communicate concerns with caregivers and refer for ongoing support.

🧭 Designed for the Mid North Coast Community

At SALT Training Academy, we’re based right here in Port Macquarie, so we understand the unique needs of our local industries—from aged care to trades, schools to community services.

We regularly deliver training in:

📍 Port Macquarie
📍 Wauchope
📍 Bonny Hills
📍 Laurieton
📍 Crescent Head

Our courses are built around real-world application, not theory alone. Our lead trainer Brent has over a decade of experience as a first responder with experiecne in hunderds of physical and mental health incidents, ensuring that you’ll walk away from this course with practical tools and tips you can use immediately.

🗓 Course Details & Booking Info

✅ Provide First Aid (HLTAID011)

Format: Blended learning
- Online theory (self-paced)
- 90-minute face-to-face practical session
Covers: CPR, bleeding, burns, fractures, asthma, allergies, seizures, and more
Ideal for: all workplaces, volunteers, parents, carers
Nationally recognised certification

✅ 11244NAT – Mental Health Support for First Responders

Format: Blended learning
- Online theory (self-paced)
- 90-minute face-to-face practical session
Nationally recognised (Currently the only Nationally Recognised Mental Health Course).
Designed for: anyone in a high-pressure or community role

🎯 Final Thoughts: Be Ready for Every Emergency

In 2025, being first aid trained means more than knowing how to use a defibrillator—it means knowing how to support a person’s whole wellbeing.

By completing both the Provide First Aid and Mental Health Support courses, you’ll be prepared for any kind of crisis—and you’ll be doing your part to create a more resilient, supportive community here on the Mid North Coast.