Standards for Advanced Paediatric Life Support in Basic Paediatric Physician Training
Training requirement
Trainees completing Basic Training in Paediatrics & Child Health are required to complete an advanced paediatric life support course or equivalent throughout the course of training.
In the new Basic Training curriculum, this requirement aligns to EPA 7: Acutely unwell patients.
Before undertaking an advanced paediatric life support course or equivalent, trainees should contact the College or their DPE to confirm the course they plan to complete will fulfil the requirement.
How to use these standards
These criteria can be used to determine whether a course or equivalent meets the Basic Training advanced paediatric life support requirement. The course must meet all the elements outlined below.
| Course element |
Standard |
| Course standard |
The minimal resuscitation competency Basic Paediatric Physician Trainees should achieve prior to completing Basic Training is to be an effective first responder with advanced paediatric and neonatal life support skills in all clinical and hospital setting types (metropolitan, regional, and rural).
A resuscitation training course should include training and formal assessment of the skills and knowledge consistent with the current Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) guidelines. |
| Mode |
The course is delivered face-to-face and includes practical and hands on, simulation-based training. |
| Course provider |
The course provider has appropriate experience and expertise. |
| Course duration |
While a minimum duration is not specified, the course must provide sufficient opportunity for participants to achieve the intended learning outcomes (including knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours) listed below. |
| Refresher courses |
The suitability of refresher courses to meet this requirement will be at the discretion of the Director of Paediatric Education and be guided by the same principles outlined below. |
| Course content / learning outcomes |
The course includes all these core aspects from the ANZCOR guidelines and is specific to the neonatal and paediatric patient group:
- Recognising and responding to deteriorating patients
- Recognition of antenatal and intrapartum risk for needing resuscitation
- Assessment of need for resuscitation at birth
- Initial steps in resuscitation of the neonate
- Basic life support
- Basic airway skills and management
- Advanced airway management
- Ventilation
- Vascular access
- Reversible causes and rhythms associated with cardiac arrest
- Management of shockable and non-shockable arrest rhythms
- Defibrillation and cardioversion
- Drug therapy, including resuscitation drugs
- Special circumstances, e.g. the very or extremely preterm neonate; the neonate with congenital anomalies
- Teamwork and communication, including Crisis Resource Management and leadership
- Post resuscitation care and when to cease resuscitation
- Legal and ethical issues related to resuscitation
- Communication with and care of parents, families, significant others and bystanders
|
Reference
- Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) Guideline 10.2 - Advanced Life Support (ALS) Training. guideline-10-2-advanced-life-support-als-training-231.pdf (anzcor.org) (Accessed 20 March 2026)