Recognising and treating the seriously unwell child, through to paediatric cardiac arrest. Includes weight-based drug and fluid doses.
$650 / person inc. GST1 day16 planned learning hours
Who it's for and prerequisites
GPs, practice nurses, emergency and rural clinicians, paediatric and perioperative nurses, and anyone who may need to resuscitate a baby or child.
Prerequisite: A clinical role (AHPRA-registered or a paramedic) and current BLS skills. Preparation: About 8 hours of online learning, at your own pace, finished before the day.
Learning outcomes
Assess a seriously unwell infant or child with a structured ABCDE approach
Recognise and treat respiratory failure and shock before they progress to arrest
Give high-quality infant and child CPR at 15:2, including the two-thumb encircling technique
Follow the ANZCOR paediatric ALS algorithm for shockable and non-shockable rhythms
Defibrillate a child safely with correct pad size, placement and weight-based energy
Manage the paediatric airway with bag-valve-mask ventilation and adjuncts
Calculate weight-based drug and fluid doses using a cognitive aid, and gain IO access
Support family presence and communicate clearly with parents
Online preparation
Planned total: 480 minutes. Complete before the practical session.
Module
Minutes
Content
The seriously unwell child
60
How children differ, ABCDE assessment, early warning signs and escalation
Respiratory failure
60
Upper and lower airway problems, oxygen and ventilation support
Circulatory failure and shock
60
Recognising shock, fluids, sepsis and IO access
Paediatric BLS for health professionals
45
Infant and child CPR, 15:2, compression depth and technique, choking
The paediatric ALS algorithm
60
Shockable and non-shockable pathways, defibrillation and drug timing
Arrhythmias in children
45
Bradycardia, SVT and other arrhythmias in infants and children
Special circumstances
45
Anaphylaxis, drowning, trauma and other special situations
After return of circulation
30
Post-ROSC priorities and safe handover or retrieval
Family presence and communication
45
Supporting parents during a resuscitation
Pre-course quiz
30
Multiple-choice questions to check readiness, including dose calculations
PALS · Practical teaching and assessment · 2 / 3
Your training day
Use the timetable as a delivery plan. Adapt scenarios to participants' roles and equipment. 1 educator for every 8 participants.
Start
Session and content
Format
08:00
Welcome and orientation Objectives, equipment walk-through, and the cognitive aids we use for weights and doses
Briefing
08:20
Infant and child CPR Two-thumb encircling and one- or two-hand techniques on feedback manikins, 15:2 with two rescuers
Skills station
09:00
Assessing the seriously unwell child Structured ABCDE assessment using case videos and manikins; when and how to escalate
Workshop
09:45
Airway and ventilation Bag-valve-mask sizing and technique, adjuncts, positioning infants and children
Skills station
10:30
Morning tea
10:45
Access, drugs and fluids IO insertion on trainers, weight estimation and dose calculation with cognitive aids
Workshop
11:30
Paediatric defibrillation Pad sizes and placement, weight-based energy, safe shock
Skills station
12:15
Lunch
12:45
Scenarios Respiratory arrest, shock, VF, asystole and PEA, bradycardia, SVT and anaphylaxis. Roles rotate, including a parent role
Simulation and debrief
14:45
Afternoon tea
15:00
Assessment Each participant leads one assessed paediatric scenario. Theory exam if not completed online
Assessment
16:15
Debrief, reflection and refresher plan Individual feedback, reflection on team performance, an action plan and certificates. Finish at 17:00
Debrief
Assessment criteria
Theory exam: multiple-choice including dose calculations, 80% to pass
Effective infant and child CPR on feedback manikins
Safe paediatric defibrillation with correct energy and pad placement
Leading a simulated paediatric resuscitation independently, following the ANZCOR paediatric ALS algorithm
Observe skills throughout, coach specifically and record individual outcomes. Use an approved checklist for each practical assessment. The 80% theory threshold, where listed, is our proposed course standard.
Certificate rules
Participants who meet every assessment criterion receive a certificate of competency showing the course, date, CPD hours and guideline version. Anyone who doesn't receives a certificate of attendance with specific feedback, and can be reassessed at a later session at no charge.
Certificate acceptance and refresher intervals depend on the employer and professional body. Contact us before attending if a participation adjustment is needed.
PALS · Delivery, records and references · 3 / 3
Running the course
Group: On-site minimum 6. Up to 8 with one educator, up to 16 with two. Educators: 1 educator for every 8 participants.
Venue: A room big enough for two scenario stations, or your own treatment area for in-situ scenarios. Tables, chairs and power points.
Equipment
Infant and child manikins with CPR feedback
Training defibrillator with paediatric pads and rhythm simulator
Paediatric bag-valve-masks, airway adjuncts and suction
IO trainer and simulated paediatric drug box
Weight-based dosing cognitive aids
Requirements this design supports
NSQHS Standard 8, Action 8.11: competence in paediatric advanced life support for responders in services that care for children
Paediatric resuscitation training for GPs, practice nurses, and rural and emergency staff
ANZCOR Guideline 10.2: blended delivery, cognitive aids and team training
Training supports skills and records. It does not by itself certify workplace compliance or guarantee employer acceptance.
CPD: 16 planned learning hours. [Accreditation pending] RACGP activity ID: [Activity ID pending] · ACRRM activity ID: [Activity ID pending].
Educator preparation and quality checks
Review current algorithms and local policies, check equipment and hygiene, prepare role-specific scenarios and assessment checklists, and confirm learner prerequisites. Record results, give individual feedback and use learner feedback to improve the next session. This outline is a delivery plan; it must be accompanied by original slides, online modules, scenarios and assessment tools.
Guideline references
ANZCOR Guideline 12.1 – Paediatric Basic Life Support (PBLS) for Health Professionals
ANZCOR Guideline 12.2 – Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
ANZCOR Guideline 12.3 – Management of Other Arrhythmias in Infants and Children
ANZCOR Guideline 12.4 – Paediatric Resuscitation in Special Circumstances
ANZCOR Guideline 12.5 – Management after Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)
ANZCOR Guideline 10.2 – Advanced Life Support (ALS) Training
ANZCOR Guideline 10.6 – Family Presence during Resuscitation
NSQHS Standard 8 – Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration, Action 8.11
Design based on ANZCOR guidance checked 7 October 2026. Confirm the current version at anzcor.org before every delivery. No drug-dose tables are reproduced in this outline.
Based in Melbourne. Training across Victoria, and interstate for the right group. Travel within metropolitan Melbourne is included. Regional and interstate travel is quoted before you book. Contact: hello@respondlifesupport.com · [Phone TBC].