During National Road Safety Week, St John Ambulance Australia is encouraging young and new drivers to learn vital first aid skills through our free Driver First Aid program, designed for all L and P plate drivers.
Whether it’s a learner driver taking their first lesson, an office worker driving into their 9-5, or a family heading home from a weekend away, roadside emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. The award-winning online course gives drivers practical knowledge to help in those first crucial minutes after an incident.
The Critical Minutes That Can Change Everything
Every day, Australians get behind the wheel to travel from A to B. In the critical moments after a crash or roadside emergency, it’s often everyday road users who are first on scene.
Basic first aid interventions in the minutes following a crash can make an enormous difference while emergency services are on their way.
Simple actions such as the ones below can help save a life or prevent further injury.
Topics Covered within the Free Driver First Aid Program Include:
- Keeping an airway open
- Applying pressure to a bleed
- Ensuring the scene is safe
- Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Australia’s road network spans bustling cities to regional and remote areas, meaning ambulance response times can vary depending on location.
Equipping more Australians with basic first aid knowledge helps create safer, more prepared communities on our roads.
More Than 16,000 Drivers Trained
Momentum behind Driver First Aid continues to grow, with more than 16,000 drivers across Australia completing the free training program, as of May 2026.
The online course is designed to provide accessible, practical and evidence-based first aid education for road users.
Preparing the Next Generation of Drivers
The award-winning Driver First Aid program was developed to help young Australians feel more confident and prepared before getting behind the wheel.
Driver First Aid is about more than training, it’s about creating a culture where Australians feel empowered to help one another in emergencies.
Importantly, the program is not intended to replace accredited first aid training. Instead, its focus is on empowering Australians with simple, practical interventions that could make a life-saving difference in the event of a roadside emergency.
First Aid Ready Roads
National Road Safety Week is a reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility. First aid knowledge can help save lives when every second counts. Are you prepared?
The free Learner Driver First Aid course is available online. Click the button below.
