CPR in 2026: What Has Changed and Why Your Certificate Matters
Workplace & Industry Safety
CPR in 2026: What Has Changed, What Hasn't, and Why Your Certificate Matters
A clear, Australian answer to "has CPR changed?", with the current ANZCOR basics, the updates that actually affect you, and how often to refresh.
Every year we hear the same question in our courses: "Has CPR changed since I last did it?" It is a good question. Social media is full of videos from other countries, headlines about new guidelines, and conflicting advice about depth, breaths and choking.
The short answer is reassuring. The core of CPR in Australia has not changed. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest, give breaths if you can, and get a defibrillator on as soon as possible.
But plenty around CPR has moved on, from updated professional guidelines and new adrenaline devices to more public defibrillators and a stronger focus on quality. This article explains what is new, what is not, and why keeping your certificate current still matters.
Quick answer
Has CPR changed in Australia in 2026? The basic CPR steps taught to the public have not changed. Australian courses follow ANZCOR guidelines: 30 compressions to 2 breaths, at 100 to 120 compressions per minute, pressing down about one third of the depth of the chest, and using an AED as soon as possible. Recent updates mainly affect advanced life support used by health professionals, along with new adrenaline devices for anaphylaxis. CPR should still be refreshed every 12 months.
1. Who Sets the CPR Rules in Australia?
In Australia, CPR and first aid guidelines come from the Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR), a partnership between the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council. ANZCOR reviews international evidence, mainly through the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), and then adapts it for Australian and New Zealand conditions.
That matters because other countries publish their own guidelines, and they are not always the same. The American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council both released major updates in late 2025, following ILCOR's latest evidence review. Some of their advice is similar to ours. Some is different.
Follow Australian guidelines, not overseas videos.
If you learned CPR from a US video or TV show, some details may not match what is taught here. Nationally recognised Australian courses teach to ANZCOR guidelines, and those are the standard your workplace and assessors expect.
A good example is choking. In Australia, ANZCOR teaches back blows followed by chest thrusts for a choking adult or child. American guidance uses abdominal thrusts. Both aim to clear the airway, but Australian first aid courses teach chest thrusts. Our guide to choking in adults and the Australian first aid response explains the steps.
2. What Has Not Changed: The CPR Basics
If you remember the basics from your last course, you are still on the right track. These are the core elements of adult CPR taught in Australian courses today.
CPR element | Current Australian approach |
|---|---|
Action plan | DRSABCD: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation |
When to start | The person is unresponsive and not breathing normally |
Hand position | Heel of the hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the centre of the chest |
Depth | About one third of the depth of the chest |
Rate | 100 to 120 compressions per minute |
Ratio | 30 compressions to 2 breaths, for all ages |
Recoil | Let the chest rise fully between compressions |
Interruptions | Keep pauses as short as possible |
If you cannot give breaths | Continuous chest compressions are far better than none |
Defibrillation | Attach an AED as soon as it arrives and follow the prompts |
You may have seen depth described elsewhere as "at least 5 centimetres". That comes from other guidelines. In Australia, the teaching point is about one third of the depth of the chest, which works for every body size, from infants to large adults.
3. What Has Changed: Five Updates Worth Knowing
1. Advanced life support updates for health professionals
In early 2026, ANZCOR updated several advanced life support guidelines used by paramedics, doctors and nurses. These cover areas such as the ALS algorithm, airway management during CPR, oxygen targets after the heart restarts and care after resuscitation. They are important for health teams, but they do not change the CPR steps taught to the public or in HLTAID courses.
2. New international evidence and guidelines
ILCOR's 2025 evidence review led to new guidelines in the United States and Europe late in 2025. ANZCOR continues to review that evidence and update Australian guidelines on its own timeline. If something changes for public CPR in Australia, accredited courses update their content to match.
3. New adrenaline devices for anaphylaxis
This is the biggest practical change for first aiders. In late 2025 the TGA registered the neffy adrenaline nasal spray and the Jext autoinjector, joining EpiPen and Anapen. ASCIA updated its action plans and device instructions in December 2025. Anaphylaxis can lead to cardiac arrest, so first aiders now need to recognise more than one type of device. Our guide to why adrenaline comes before the inhaler explains the first aid priorities.
4. More defibrillators in the community
Public AEDs are now common in shopping centres, sports clubs, schools, gyms, airports and workplaces. The St John WA 2024 cardiac arrest report found that when the first shock came from a community AED, patients were 2.6 times more likely to survive (five-year average). Yet only 14.8% of patients had a community AED applied before the ambulance arrived. Knowing where your nearest AED is, and being willing to use it, is one of the most valuable things you can do.
5. A stronger focus on CPR quality
Resuscitation science increasingly focuses not just on whether CPR is done, but how well it is done. That includes depth, rate, full recoil and keeping pauses short. Many training manikins now give real-time feedback on compression quality, which helps people learn exactly what good CPR feels like.
4. Chest Compression Fraction: Why Pauses Matter
One quality measure used in resuscitation research is called chest compression fraction. It is the percentage of time during a cardiac arrest that someone is actually doing compressions. Many resuscitation organisations suggest aiming for at least 80 percent.
Why does it matter? When compressions stop, blood flow to the brain and heart drops almost immediately. It takes several compressions to build pressure back up again. Frequent or long pauses mean the brain spends more time without oxygen.
Common causes of long pauses include:
Checking for a pulse or breathing again and again
Taking too long to give breaths
Swapping rescuers slowly
Fumbling with AED pads while compressions stop
Stopping to answer questions or look for equipment
Good training teaches you to keep going. Once you start CPR, only stop when the AED tells you to, when the person starts breathing normally, or when paramedics take over.
Team tip
If there are two of you, one person does compressions while the other gets the AED ready and places the pads. Swap compressors every two minutes, ideally when the AED is analysing, to keep pauses as short as possible.
5. What Good Compressions Feel Like
People often worry about pushing too hard. In reality, the most common problem we see in training is compressions that are too shallow and too slow.
Position: kneel beside the person, shoulders directly above your hands, arms straight.
Use your body weight: push down from your hips, not with your arms.
Depth: about one third of the chest depth. It takes real effort.
Rate: 100 to 120 a minute. Songs with the right beat help, such as "Stayin' Alive".
Recoil: lift your weight between compressions so the chest can rise fully, without taking your hands off.
Count out loud: it helps you keep rhythm and lets others know where you are up to.
CPR is physically hard work. After two minutes, most people's compressions start to get shallower even if they do not feel tired. That is why swapping rescuers regularly is so important.
Ribs can crack during effective CPR, especially in older people. That can feel alarming, but it is not a reason to stop. A person in cardiac arrest will die without CPR.
6. CPR for Children and Infants
The 30:2 ratio is the same for all ages in Australian first aid. The technique changes with body size.
Children
For children, use the heel of one or two hands on the lower half of the breastbone, depending on the child's size. Press about one third of the chest depth at 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
Infants under one year
For infants, use two fingers on the lower half of the breastbone. Keep the head in a neutral position rather than tilting it right back, and cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth when giving gentle breaths, just enough to make the chest rise.
AEDs can be used on children and infants. Some have child pads or a child mode. If child pads are not available, use adult pads, placing them front and back if they would touch on the chest.
If you work with children, HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting covers infant and child CPR in more depth.
7. Using an AED Without Fear
An automated external defibrillator is designed for untrained members of the public. It cannot shock someone who does not need it. It talks you through every step.
Turn it on. Some open automatically when you lift the lid.
Expose the chest. Remove or cut clothing. Wipe the chest dry if it is wet.
Apply the pads as shown on the pictures: usually one below the right collarbone and one on the left side of the chest below the armpit.
Stand clear when the AED analyses. Make sure no one is touching the person.
Press shock if advised, or wait if it is fully automatic, then restart compressions straight away.
Follow the prompts until paramedics take over. Leave the pads on.
For a deeper look at defibrillators in real situations, including car crashes, read our guides to CPR and AEDs: 10 critical questions answered and why you should not forget the defibrillator at a car crash.
8. Why Acting Quickly Still Matters Most
Guidelines change in the details. The biggest factor in survival does not change: how quickly CPR and defibrillation begin.
The St John WA 2024 Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report showed that patients who received bystander CPR were more than twice as likely to be alive at 30 days as those who did not. In WA, 81.1% of patients in non-paramedic-witnessed arrests where resuscitation was attempted received bystander CPR, which is something our community can be proud of.
Good training means you act without hesitation. You do not wait for someone else. You do not stop to think about whether you are doing it perfectly. You start, you keep going, and you get the defibrillator. Our article on the biggest first aid mistake explains why hesitation costs more than imperfect technique.
9. How These Changes Affect HLTAID009, HLTAID011 and HLTAID014
The HLTAID first aid units have been the nationally recognised standard since 2020. Every accredited course teaches to the current ANZCOR guidelines and updates its content when guidelines change.
Unit | What it covers | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
CPR and AED use for adults, children and infants | Anyone needing CPR only, and the yearly refresher for first aiders | |
CPR plus bleeding, fractures, asthma, anaphylaxis, envenomation, medical emergencies and more | Most workplaces and community first aiders | |
First aid focused on children, including asthma and anaphylaxis management | Childcare, schools, OSHC and holiday programs | |
Advanced first aid, managing incidents and first aid rooms | First aid officers in higher-risk and larger workplaces |
If you completed your certification some time ago, a refresher brings your skills in line with current expectations and gives you a chance to practise with the latest equipment, including newer adrenaline device trainers.
10. How Often Should You Renew CPR and First Aid?
This is where people get caught out. Nationally recognised units do not have a legal expiry date printed on them, but industry practice is clear and most employers follow it:
CPR: refresh every 12 months.
First aid (HLTAID011, HLTAID012, HLTAID013, HLTAID014): renew every three years, with CPR refreshed each year in between.
Why every year for CPR? Because CPR skills fade faster than most people expect. Research consistently shows that compression depth, rate and confidence drop within months of training. A short yearly refresher resets them.
A simple renewal cycle
Year 1: HLTAID011 Provide First Aid (includes CPR)
Year 2: HLTAID009 CPR refresher
Year 3: HLTAID009 CPR refresher
Year 4: HLTAID011 renewal, and the cycle starts again
For workplaces, this keeps everyone current, spreads training costs and avoids last-minute panic bookings before audits.
What to expect in a CPR refresher
A CPR refresher is short, practical and focused. You will usually complete some theory beforehand, then spend your face-to-face time doing, not reading. Expect to:
Run through DRSABCD and recognising when to start CPR, including agonal breathing
Practise adult CPR on a manikin on the floor, including at least two minutes of uninterrupted single-rescuer CPR, which is part of the assessment requirements
Practise infant CPR, with two-finger compressions and gentle breaths
Use an AED trainer from start to finish, including pad placement
Put someone in the recovery position
Talk through handover to paramedics and looking after yourself afterwards
Because CPR is assessed on the floor, wear comfortable clothes you can kneel in. If you have a knee, back or other condition that makes kneeling difficult, let us know before the course so we can discuss your options.
11. Online CPR Courses: What to Check
You will see many online first aid and CPR courses advertised. Some legitimate courses use online learning for theory, followed by a face-to-face practical assessment. That can be a great, flexible option.
But CPR is a physical skill. A nationally recognised CPR unit requires you to demonstrate compressions and breaths on a manikin to an assessor. Be wary of any course that promises a nationally recognised CPR or first aid certificate with no practical assessment at all.
Our article on online first aid courses in Australia and what to check before enrolling walks through the warning signs.
12. CPR Myths We Still Hear in 2026
"You need to check for a pulse."
Not for the public. Pulse checks are unreliable and waste time. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR.
"You can hurt someone by doing CPR when they did not need it."
The risk of serious harm from CPR in someone who was not in cardiac arrest is low. The risk of not doing CPR for someone who is in cardiac arrest is death.
"Gasping means they are breathing."
No. Gasping or agonal breathing is common in the first minutes of cardiac arrest and is not normal breathing. Start CPR.
"You must give breaths or it does not count."
Breaths are part of standard CPR, but if you are unwilling or unable to give them, continuous chest compressions are far better than nothing.
"AEDs are only for trained people."
AEDs are designed for anyone. They talk you through each step and will not shock unless it is needed.
"Once you start, you can stop after ten minutes."
Keep going until the person starts breathing normally, paramedics take over, the AED tells you to stop, or you are physically unable to continue.
13. A Real-World Scenario at a Community Sports Club
It is a Saturday morning at a regional WA football club. A 52-year-old volunteer collapses behind the canteen. A junior coach, Priya, who renewed her CPR three months earlier, is nearby.
She checks for danger, taps his shoulders and shouts. No response. He is making occasional gasping sounds.
She recognises this is not normal breathing. She points at a parent: "Call 000 now and put it on speaker." She points at a teenager: "The defib is in the clubrooms by the door. Bring it here."
She starts compressions, counting out loud, hard and fast in the centre of his chest.
The AED arrives within two minutes. Another parent, who also did a course recently, opens it and places the pads while Priya keeps compressing.
The AED analyses and advises a shock. Everyone stands clear. Shock delivered. Priya goes straight back to compressions.
They swap compressors every two minutes until the ambulance arrives.
The man survives. His cardiologist later tells the club that the fast CPR and early shock made the difference. None of the rescuers were health professionals. They were just current.
14. The Chain of Survival
Resuscitation experts describe cardiac arrest survival as a chain. Every link has to hold. The first three links are in the hands of ordinary people.
Early recognition and call for help. Recognise that the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, and call 000 straight away.
Early CPR. Start compressions immediately to keep blood moving to the brain and heart.
Early defibrillation. Get an AED on as soon as possible. For many cardiac arrests, a shock is the only thing that can restart a normal rhythm.
Early advanced care. Paramedics bring medications, airway equipment and advanced skills.
Post-resuscitation care. Hospital teams stabilise the person and treat the cause.
Notice where the biggest gains are. By the time paramedics arrive, the first three links have usually decided the outcome. That is why community CPR and AED training has such a big impact.
15. CPR in Special Situations
The basics stay the same in almost every situation. A few circumstances need extra thought.
Drowning
In drowning, the heart usually stops because of a lack of oxygen. That makes rescue breaths especially important. Get the person out of the water safely, check for response and breathing, and start CPR with 30 compressions and 2 breaths. Vomiting is common. If it happens, roll the person onto their side, clear the mouth, then roll them back and continue. Anyone pulled from the water after a near drowning should be medically checked, even if they seem fine.
Electric shock
Do not touch the person until you are certain the power is off. At home, switch off at the switchboard. For powerlines, stay at least eight metres away and call 000. Once it is safe, start DRSABCD as normal.
Pregnancy
Give CPR as normal. In later pregnancy, if another person is available, they can gently push the belly towards the woman's left side, or you can place padding under her right hip, to take pressure off major blood vessels. Never delay compressions to do this.
Trauma
If a person has collapsed after an injury, control any life-threatening bleeding as well as starting CPR if they are not breathing normally. If there are enough people, one controls bleeding while another does compressions.
Cold conditions
A person who is very cold may be harder to assess and may need longer resuscitation. Protect them from further heat loss and continue CPR until paramedics take over.
Remote locations
In remote WA, help may take a long time to arrive. Continue CPR for as long as you safely can, rotate rescuers and follow the advice of emergency services on the phone. Our guide to HLTAID013 remote first aid covers extended care.
16. What Employers Should Do Now
If you manage a team, here is a simple checklist to make sure your workplace is ready for a cardiac arrest in 2026.
Check certificate dates. Identify anyone whose CPR is more than 12 months old or whose first aid is more than three years old.
Train enough people. Make sure a trained first aider is available on every shift and at every site, not just in the office.
Get an AED, or know where the nearest one is. Consider installing one, register it with your state's AED register, and include its location in inductions.
Check your kits. Include resuscitation masks and gloves, and update anaphylaxis resources to reflect new devices.
Run a quick drill. A short practice collapse scenario builds confidence and shows up gaps.
Support your first aiders. Debrief after incidents and make wellbeing support available.
Our guide to the essential first aid course your WA business needs for compliance explains the legal side.
17. Looking After Yourself After CPR
Doing CPR on someone, especially someone you know, is a big experience. It is normal to feel shaky, emotional, numb, or to replay what happened for days afterwards. Some people feel guilt or doubt, especially if the person did not survive.
Please know this: CPR gives people a chance, but it does not always succeed, even when it is done perfectly. Many cardiac arrests are caused by conditions that cannot be reversed. If you tried, you did the right thing.
Talk to someone you trust. Use your workplace Employee Assistance Program if you have one, and see your GP if the feelings do not ease over the following weeks.
18. Why Your Certificate Still Matters
A certificate is not the goal. Capability is. But your certificate matters for three practical reasons:
Workplace compliance. Many employers, sites and industries require current CPR and first aid for certain roles, and WHS codes of practice expect first aiders to be trained and current.
Employment. First aid is one of the most requested tickets on job applications, especially in education, care, hospitality, fitness, construction, mining and remote work.
Confidence. The yearly refresher is what keeps your skills and your willingness to act fresh.
If you are not sure where your team stands, check the dates on everyone's certificates today. Anyone whose CPR is more than 12 months old is due.
CPR has not changed. People forget.
That is the real reason for yearly refreshers. Not because the rules keep moving, but because skills and confidence fade. Keep yours current.
Frequently Asked Questions About CPR in 2026
Has CPR changed in Australia in 2026?
The basic CPR steps for the public have not changed. Australian courses follow ANZCOR guidelines: 30 compressions to 2 breaths, 100 to 120 per minute, one third of chest depth, and an AED as soon as possible.
What is the CPR ratio in Australia?
The ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths for adults, children and infants. If you cannot or will not give breaths, do continuous chest compressions.
How deep should CPR compressions be in Australia?
ANZCOR teaches compressions of about one third of the depth of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone, for all ages.
How fast should CPR compressions be?
Aim for 100 to 120 compressions per minute, allowing the chest to rise fully between each compression and keeping pauses short.
How often do I need to renew my CPR certificate?
CPR should be refreshed every 12 months. First aid qualifications such as HLTAID011 are generally renewed every three years, with CPR refreshed yearly in between.
Are American CPR guidelines the same as Australian ones?
Not exactly. Australia follows ANZCOR guidelines, which differ in some details, such as using chest thrusts rather than abdominal thrusts for choking. Learn from an Australian accredited course.
Can I do an online CPR course?
You can do theory online, but a nationally recognised CPR unit requires a practical assessment on a manikin. Avoid courses that offer accredited CPR with no hands-on assessment.
Can I use an AED on a child?
Yes. Use child pads or child mode if available. If not, use adult pads, placing them on the front and back of the chest if they would touch.
What is chest compression fraction?
It is the proportion of time during a cardiac arrest that compressions are being done. Keeping pauses short, with a target of at least 80 percent, helps maintain blood flow to the brain.
Do I need to check for a pulse before CPR?
No. Members of the public should start CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Pulse checks are unreliable and delay compressions.
Is CPR different for drowning?
The steps are the same, 30 compressions to 2 breaths, but rescue breaths are especially important because drowning starts with a lack of oxygen. Expect vomiting and roll the person to clear the airway if needed.
What is the chain of survival?
It is the sequence that gives the best chance of surviving cardiac arrest: early recognition and calling 000, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced care from paramedics and hospital care.
Is Your CPR Current?
Refresh your skills in a practical, supportive course with REACHAU. HLTAID009 CPR refreshers and full first aid courses across Perth and regional WA, including on-site training for your team.
Book a CPR RefresherGet in Touch
Training and Assessment is delivered by Britt at Regional Education and Career Help Australia on behalf of ABC First Aid RTO 3399.
Written by Britt Brennan
Empowerment-Focused First Aid Trainer and Employment Coach, and founder of REACHAU. Britt delivers nationally recognised CPR and first aid training across Western Australia.
This article is general information based on ANZCOR guidelines and publicly available St John WA and ASCIA information current at the time of writing. It does not replace a first aid course or medical advice. In an emergency, call 000.
