About Us

We believe in saving lives through education.

Empowering families through care, connection, and education since 1991

Emergcare was founded by paramedics in 1991 with one simple belief: that knowledge saves lives. What began as a way to share life-saving skills has grown into a trusted community for parents, carers, and workplaces across Australia.

We understand that when a baby is born, a parent is born, too. Every new stage brings questions, hopes, and a few nerves, and that’s where we come in. Our approach to first aid goes beyond the classroom or memorising steps! We teach you what to do, but we also help you feel ready, calm, and supported through every stage of parenthood.

Our vision is a community where every parent and caregiver feels confident caring for their child in an emergency. However, we recognise that emotional care is just as critical as practical, physical skills, and we equally support you in caring for your own well-being. Because where practical skills save lives, emotional care helps families thrive, and we’re here to support you in both.

Our Mission

Making lifesaving skills accessible for every family and community

As health professionals, we believe first aid and CPR aren’t just skills, but acts of care. Everybody deserves to have the knowledge and skills to help when it matters most.

We’re proud to deliver high-quality, flexible, and affordable first aid education within the Royal Children’s Hospital (Melbourne) and the wider community. Working in partnership with Kidsafe Victoria and COPE, our courses are guided by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) National Guidelines, ensuring every session meets the highest safety and care standards.

Confidence Starts Here

Expert-led education, grounded in real experience and delivered with compassion

Real-world experience from paramedics

Our trainers aren’t just teachers: they’re paramedics and health professionals who have worked on the frontline. Every session is filled with real-world stories, practical guidance, and proven techniques you’ll remember when it counts.

Courses focused on families and parents

From new parents to growing families, our training adapts to you. Whether you’re learning how to respond to common childhood injuries or handle emergencies with confidence, you’ll gain skills that make a real impact.

Accredited workplace training

We offer nationally recognised first aid training for workplaces, empowering your team with the skills and confidence to respond when it matters most. Every course is inclusive and practical, preparing your staff for real-life situations.

Inclusive and compassionate approach

Our approach goes beyond physical safety. We also focus on emotional well-being, creating a space that’s calm, welcoming, and supportive for every learner.

Evidence-Based Training

Our partners

Testimonials

What our
clients say

 

The Perinatal First Aid Course is a fantastic resource for first time parents. Would highly recommend doing it. Dani and Sarah were great educators and covered essential topics including mental health, which is important for both parents.

I attended the Paediatric First Aid course & found it extremely helpful & very detailed without going into information overload or overwhelming. Dani is an excellent instructor & her friendly approach to the course as well as any questions asked was very helpful & detailed which made the course also more comfortable. The follow-up detailed email was also very helpful & much appreciated. I highly recommend attending with Emergcare if possible to get hands on experience with the CPR.

Such a worthwhile course, very well facilitated – Jess was an incredible presenter, so clear and happy to engage with all questions. We feel much more equipped having done the course, thank you!

Dani and Jess were excellent instructors. The course was a great refresher and made me feel more confident about managing an emergency with my kids. Especially as my second baby is starting solids! Hands on work with the mannequins is so valuable, make sure you do an in person course and choose this one as the team are fun and that helps you remember!

Excellent course and really well presented by Danielle. Plenty of opportunity to practice CPR and how to properly deal with choking on baby and child models. Lots of useful information. I feel much more confident about how to approach paediatric first aid. I also liked the emphasis on prevention.

Thanks Sarah for the great first aid presentation! As an expecting first time mum and dad it helped ease our worries and we now feel prepared. It was definitely worth attending. The perinatal mental health conversation at the end was excellent as well.

Emergcare provide excellent First Aid and CPR Training. Their courses are well structured, informative with clear online training modules.

Emergcare is a standout provider in the CPR and first aid industry, showcasing an exceptional commitment to quality service and care. Their professionalism and dedication to ensuring the best outcomes for their clients are truly commendable.

Hendrik Gutwirth and Daniel Parks are the co-directors of Emergcare

Hendrik and Daniel are Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedics with more than 30 years of combined clinical experience. But above all, they’re dedicated fathers who understand the hopes and fears that come with raising little learners and explorers.

Between them, they’ve supported families across metropolitan and rural Australia, contributed to published research, led professional development workshops, and worked as clinical instructors and as team manager. Their leadership combines deep clinical knowledge with genuine empathy, creating an education experience that’s as human as it is practical.

With extensive industry experience and a shared commitment to excellence, Hendrik and Daniel are proud to lead an education provider that is a member of the Australian Resuscitation Council (Victorian Branch), contributing to best practice in first aid education. Through partnerships with Kidsafe Victoria and the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), they ensure every Emergcare course continues to meet (and often exceed) national standards.

Together with their experienced team of nurses, paramedics, midwives and educators, they continue to deliver training that empowers families, supports communities, and strengthens the future of care in Australia.

Our team

 

Hendrik Gutwirth

EMERGCARE CO-DIRECTOR

Hendrik Gutwirth is a Co-Director of Emergcare and an Advanced Life Support Paramedic with over 15 years of clinical experience. Passionate about education, Hendrik has contributed to published research in his field, facilitated professional development workshops for his peers, and acted in both Clinical Instructor and Paramedic Educator roles. At Emergcare, Hendrik shares his extensive clinical knowledge and works collaboratively to educate and empower parents and carers across Australia.

Daniel Parks

EMERGCARE CO-DIRECTOR

Daniel Parks is a Co-Director of Emergcare and an Advanced Life Support Paramedic with over 17 years of clinical experience. With a diverse range of expertise, Daniel has also worked across Queensland and Victoria, in both metropolitan and rural areas, and has held both Clinical Instructor and Team Manager positions. At Emergcare, Daniel shares his extensive clinical knowledge and works collaboratively to educate and empower parents and carers across Australia.

Dr Nicole Highet

PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Dr Nicole Highet is a perinatal mental health specialist with over 25 years’ experience, and the Founder and Director of COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence, Australia’s peak body in perinatal mental health. Nicole is a Doctor of Psychology, the Chair of the 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline Expert Working Committee, and co-chaired the development of Australia’s Clinical Practice Guidelines in 2011 and 2017.

Danielle Scaletti

FIRST AID EDUCATOR

Dani is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Paediatrics with over a decade of nursing experience in a tertiary hospital setting. She has a particular interest in caring for neurosurgical patients and using her ‘post-graduate certificate in paediatric nursing’ to educate the paediatric nursing workforce. Since having two kids, Dani’s become deeply committed to supporting parents and has completed additional training in infant and child sleep. She loves teaching perinatal/paediatric first aid, knowing that empowering parents with knowledge helps make the chaos of those precious early years feel a little more manageable and enjoyable!

Jessica Orchard

FIRST AID EDUCATOR

Jess worked as a Paediatric Nurse for 14 years, working in both the hospital and community settings. Working with children in the community, she saw the importance of knowing first aid, and this led her to join Emergcare. Jess’ goal is to empower families with the skills to handle emergencies and hopes they leave her course feeling comfortable and confident. She believes that the more people who know first aid, the safer the community becomes.

Christine

FIRST AID EDUCATOR

Christine is a Clinical Nurse Educator, bringing over 14 years of experience in paediatric nursing. Across her career, she has held a range of roles focused on supporting both clinical staff and families through education, with a strong commitment to making health information practical and accessible.
Christine believes that knowledge is a powerful tool for confidence, and is passionate about equipping parents and carers with the skills and understanding they need to care for their children safely and confidently. She is currently advancing her expertise through a Master of Advanced Nursing, complementing her Post-Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing and her Certificate IV in Training & Assessment.

As a proud mother, Christine’s own journey of parenthood has strengthened her passion for supporting parents and carers, helping them feel informed, confident, and supported as they navigate their own parenting journeys.

Katie Rudderham

FIRST AID EDUCATOR

Katie Rudderham is a Registered Nurse and Trainer and Assessor with over 18 years of experience in paediatrics, chronic respiratory disease management, and disability. She has worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital in medical and PICU areas, Very Special Kids, community patient support programs, and as a community services and first aid trainer and assessor. Katie loves facilitating education in the community as it allows her to empower clients and families to confidently take charge of their own health outcomes in a safe and supportive learning environment.

Sarah Beech

FIRST AID EDUCATOR

Sarah is a UK-trained and registered children’s nurse with over a decade of experience working in paediatric intensive care. Since moving to Australia in 2019, she has continued supporting children and families through her work in critical care, palliative care, and acute neurological care, alongside evidence-based practice. She holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and has completed instructor training in Paediatric Advanced Life Support, enabling her to teach advanced resuscitation to healthcare professionals. At Emergcare, Sarah is passionate about helping parents and carers feel confident and prepared. She also trains schools and carers supporting children with complex medical needs, ensuring they can access their communities safely. As a mum herself, Sarah brings a deep understanding of both the clinical and emotional challenges that come with caring for young children. Her goal is to empower parents and carers with practical, life-saving skills, delivered with compassion and empathy.

Clara Tiantian He

FIRST AID EDUCATOR (BILINGUAL)

Clara Tiantian He is a Registered Nurse and Midwife with over 15 years of experience across general nursing, maternity, and neonatal care. She is deeply passionate about empowering families through education and health promotion. Clara enjoys facilitating first aid courses and takes pride in creating welcoming, supportive learning spaces for new parents and community members.

Di Zhu

FIRST AID EDUCATOR (BILINGUAL)

Di Zhu is a passionate and experienced Registered Nurse with over a decade of hands-on experience in fast-paced hospital environments. She excels at translating complex medical information into clear, accessible education that empowers individuals and communities. Di is particularly skilled in delivering engaging first aid courses in Mandarin and creating supportive learning environments for new parents and community groups. Motivated by the lack of accessible health education in Mandarin, Di is committed to expanding support for the community, and especially the Chinese community, by offering culturally and linguistically appropriate resources. With a strong clinical foundation and a deep dedication to health literacy, she strives to help others feel confident, informed, and empowered in managing their health and well-being.