Queensland First Aid courier mail 171011

First aid in good healthAlex Tilbury

FROM humble beginnings,Queensland First Aid hasgrown over 35 years tobecome one of the state'smost recognised providersof first aid training.

For entrepreneur GarryDraper, this wasn'tenough. He saw a businessthat could build on yearsof credibility to bring anentire industry into thenext generation.

"I could see thatQueensland First Aid hadthe ability to adapt to thecurrent market's needs,"he said.

"We could offer all the

credibility of the tra-ditional providers with theability to move with thetimes, in line with an everchanging market."

This meant adapting thecourse to provide one ofthe quickest, yet compre-hensive, nationally ac-credited one-day first aidtraining courses.

With 11 locations acrossQueensland as well as off-site training for groups, MrDraper reckons his busi-ness model is changing theface of first aid training tosuit the needs of the com-munity and business.

"We make the wholeprocess easier for the cli-

en t from the point ofbooking their coursethrough to a concise,streamlined, one-daycourse, with no pre-coursehomework requirement,and provide participantscertificates on the sameday."

Mr Draper has investedin Queensland First Aid'sinformation technologysystems, upgrading itssoftware and website tosimplify online booking.

The growth of the busi-ness is based on the beliefthat everyone has the ca-pacity to save a life in anemergency if they areproperly trained.

ENERGY TRANSFUSION: Queensland First Aid CEO Gary Draper

"Having basic first aidtraining is vital to everyone of us," Mr Draper said.

"If you are present in anemergency and there is nodoctor or ambulance onthe scene, it's important tohave the skills to be able totake charge and help."

Jan Lobwein, a recentgraduate of a QueenslandFirst Aid course with morethan a decade of experi-ence , said it was by far thebest course she had everparticipated in.

She said she'd love to seemore and more Queens-landers take such courses.

Picture: Tim Marsden

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Courier Mail17-Oct-2011Page: 29Business OwnerBy: Alex TilburyMarket: BrisbaneCirculation: 195490Type: Capital City DailySize: 385.67 sq.cmsFrequency: MTWTFS-