The Journey Of LivCor: Innovation in First Aid

In honour of World First Aid Day, we thought we'd reflect on our beginnings and to where we are today. LivCor has been a family owned and operated company since 1988. Originally known as Australian First Aid we have developed many innovative solutions to help our clients save lives. LivCor delivers nationally accredited first aid, CPR, safety and wellbeing courses to a range of clients across the country.

LivCor's story began with John Haines during Australia's Bi-Centenary celebrations in 1988, where a decision was made that would forever change the landscape of First Aid training. It all started on a tugboat, bringing in the First Fleet re-enactment into Farm Cove, where the inspiration struck to form the country’s first recognised private provider of Workplace First Aid training under the original trading name, "Australian First Aid," now known as LivCor.

The vision behind this venture was born from a simple yet profound realisation—First Aid training needed to be more realistic. Not every situation could be handled by simply following the textbook, especially in high-pressure environments. Training had to reflect the unpredictable nature of emergencies and needed to be customised for the specific injuries and hazards faced by corporate clients in different industries.

Despite humble beginnings—working from a bedroom with just a pencil and paper to draft the first submissions for approval and limited financial resources—LivCor’s journey was fuelled by passion and innovation. While still working full-time as a MICA Paramedic and MICA Flight Paramedic, the business was nurtured by founder, John Haines until it became a full-time commitment in early 1994.

Chatting to John, he said

“From the very start, the primary objective was clear: make learning easier and provide access to innovative emergency resources for everyone. This mindset led to significant breakthroughs, such as in 1989, when we questioned the recommended recovery positions for unconscious patients with suspected spinal injuries”.?

John refers to his creation of the High Arm in Endangered Spine (HAINES) recovery position which came about during his research where he uncovered that traditional recovery methods failed to significantly reduce sideways movement of the head and neck, particularly for those with compromised airways. The position was recognised by the medical faculty of the University of Melbourne for its superior safety, with three clinical studies confirming its effectiveness.

The journey of innovation didn't stop there. Over the years, LivCor has published best-selling emergency texts, with over 2 million combined sales, developed Australia's first customised e-learning First Aid theory training and assessment system in 2003 (even requiring us to learn DOS!), and expanded into providing one of the largest ranges of First Aid, Nursing, and Medical training aids.

In 2015, LivCor took another leap forward by creating the first "smart" First Aid learning guides that utilised video-linked QR codes—long before they became mainstream. That same year, they launched the First Aid Fast App, giving users access to lifesaving instructions from anywhere in the world, with the app adapting to the conditions of each continent.

The following year, LivCor became the first foundation member of the Rapid Response Revival development team, contributing to the creation of CellAED?, the world’s smallest, lightest, and most affordable automated external defibrillator (AED).

What began as a young obsession for John, has grown into something much larger than ever imagined. Today, LivCor stands as a testament to the power of innovation, driven by the dedication of an extraordinary team that is proudly family owned and operated.

While we celebrate World First Aid Day we recognise the LivCor journey continues forward, always with the mission to make First Aid more accessible, practical, and life-saving for all.

On this World First Aid Day, we celebrate the achievements that have transformed the way First Aid is taught and practised, and we look ahead to even greater innovations in the years to come.

#WorldFirstAidDay #LivCor #InnovationInFirstAid #HAINES #LifeSavingSkills