Merging of first-aid organisations

The merging of two community organisations will mean more, and better, first aid readiness for the Sydney Jewish community.

Community Health Support (CHS) and MediPlus Academy (MPA) have joined forces to enhance their delivery of first aid training, expertise, consultation and support to the community.

CHS is a not-for-profit organisation established in late 2021 with the mission to empower the community with confidence in a first aid emergency.

CHS has trained some 1000 community members, provided expertise and consultation to a large proportion of Jewish community sites, and provided medical event coverage to more than 30 higher risk community events.

CHS was the winner in November of JCA’s Shark Tank, where its pitch focused on raising funds to scale up its first aid training operations.

MPA is a community start-up, founded and directed by two Sydney Jewish entrepreneurs to redress the very low rate of first aid training in Australia – fewer than five per cent of people have received training.

The two organisations have joined forces to enhance their impact and scale their operations together.

All first aid trainings are now run by CHS, which provides nationally recognised first aid training as well as tailored first aid sessions. For example, one of the most popular sessions is the child and infant first aid session covering topics such as CPR and drowning, choking, anaphylaxis and seizures.

Since merging two months ago, CHS has already certified more than 300 people in nationally accredited first aid training.

Founder of MPA, Ezra Israel, has joined the CHS staff team as clinical operations manager, while Ricky Schlessinger continues with CHS as a volunteer first responder and first aid training facilitator.

The goal of CHS is to have at least one person per household trained and confident in dealing with a first aid emergency.

CHS runs monthly public trainings in the eastern suburbs, with nationally accredited courses charged at a significantly lower rate compared to other providers.

Some tailored first aid sessions, for example child/infant first aid, are run at no charge to the community. Private courses are also available for groups, organisations and businesses, with a minimum of eight participants.

The next first aid training will be on Wednesday, March 1.

To sign up visit chsnsw.org.au or call 1300 247 679 (CHS NSW).