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About Gungahlia First Aid

About Peter

A man with glasses and gray hair smiling and kneeling in a living room, with various items including a mannequin, a swan-shaped object, and plastic bags on the floor nearby. A wooden TV stand with a TV and a remote, a sofa with a pink cloth, and a houseplant are visible in the background.

40+ Years of Real-World First Response

Gungahlia First Aid is led by Peter Bickerton—an emergency first responder with 40+ years’ experience across law enforcement, sporting events and diving operations. Based in Crace, ACT, we deliver hands-on first-aid and CPR training aligned with ARC guidelines.

Peter delivers HLTAID009–HLTAID015, Low Voltage Rescue (UETDRMP018), and PUAEME007 Provide emergency care for suspected spinal injury in small, friendly classes—on-site at your workplace or at our Crace studio. A PADI Course Director with decades of experience in instructor development, he has mentored dive professionals and workplace teams to enhance their first-aid capabilities.

History of Gungahlia

It all started in 2010 when Lorrie and Peter married on a remote island in far west Fiji.  When writing on their Marriage Certificate where they lived, the Minister mistakenly merged our Suburb of Gungahlin here in the Australian Capital Territory with Australia to create the word "Gungahlia."  The logo shows their love of the underwater and our favourite turtle.  The original photo of the turtle from which the logo was sourced was taken in the Maldives in 2013 in Villamendoo resort, where Lorrie finished her first diving course.  

We love our Gungahlia logo too!!

The red cross in the logo symbolizes first aid. The curve under the turtle and above the word "gungahlia" suggests both the waves of the sea and the rolling hills of Gungahlin, where Peter and Lorrie reside. The name Gungahlin is a local Indigenous word meaning rolling hills. 

A man with glasses, wearing a red shirt and a black cap, practicing CPR on a mannequin, holding a bag valve mask for ventilation.

What we strive for

Improving the safety of people around our beautiful planet by tailoring courses for your specific environment on first aid to support you, your family and your community

Our vision at Gungahlia

High Quality First Aid Education to everyone in a fun environment, one person at a time

Our mission at Gungahlia

Teaching First Aid skills to support you, your family, friends, work colleagues and community

About us teaching Canberra first aid training

  • A classroom or training room set up for CPR training, with adult mannequins on yoga mats, chairs along the wall, and a large window.

    We love teaching at your location

    Let us teach in a location that suits everyone.

    We just need space to go through the practical exercises and a table and chairs for some pre-course homework and multiple choice review during the day.

  • Four people practicing infant CPR using mannequins in a training session.

    We prefer small groups or classes

    Some first aid training facilities teach up-to 24 students. We prefer personalised service and are able to handle more questions in a small group

  • A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is smiling, wearing a denim jacket, and is indoors in a living room with a white sofa and window with closed blinds.

    10\10 service

    "The course was by far the best I have done. The trainer was very knowledgeable and made it enjoyable while still covering all the components required. They were flexible in course times and worked around my work schedule. I highly recommend you use this local company if you need to obtain or renew first aid qualifications."

  • A man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a light blue PADI shirt, speaking into a microphone at a presentation or conference.

    Experience in the real world - Peter Bickerton

    With 40+ years as an emergency first responder across law enforcement, sport and diving, Peter brings calm, practical teaching to Gungahlin and wider Canberra. Since 2016, he’s trained teams and individuals in HLTAID009–HLTAID015 and LVR (UETDRMP018)—small, friendly classes that focus on what actually works. He also mentors new instructors and enjoys photography and videography. Most of all, he’s a proud Papa and partner to Lorrie, whose support helps keep Gungahlia running smoothly.

    Book with Peter Canberra
  • Lorrie Jones performing CPR on a class mannikin at gungahlia first aid home premises

    The Vice president of Miscellaneous magic

    Lorrie is the organiser behind Gungahlia First Aid, keeping day-to-day operations smooth in Crace, Canberra. She looks after bookings and enrolments, schedules classes, manages compliance paperwork and certificates, coordinates venues and equipment, and answers student questions quickly and kindly. If everything feels easy and runs on time, that’s Lorrie.

    contact Lorrie here
  • Tony Cook delivering first-aid training on the NSW Central Coast

    Meet Tony Cook — Your Central Coast trainer

    With 40+ years as an emergency first responder and a career as a PADI Course Director, Tony also brings steady, practical teaching to the Central Coast. He focuses on skills you’ll use when it counts, from CPR to First Aid and LVR (UETDRMP018)—available in small public classes or at your workplace. Tony’s latest passion, apart from being a proud dad to his three boys, is his volunteer work for the Scuba Gym. An amazing charity helping those enjoy the thrills of being underwater with more challenges

    Contact Tony Here

We also teach accredited international first aid

  • Red heart with an electrocardiogram line through it, and the words 'Emergency First Response' below.

    We have been teaching international first aid since 1992

    Australian accredited first aid courses cannot be taught overseas.  Our overseas courses are conducted through 
    https://www.emergencyfirstresponse.com.

  • People practicing CPR on a manikin during a training session.

    We offer a range of international first aid courses

    CPR, First Aid, Caring for Children

  • Medical professionals providing emergency care to a patient, including an oxygen mask and a stethoscope.

    We also teach you to become an international first aid instructor

    Peter has been teaching students to become First Aid Instructors who now teach overseas in many countries in Europe, Asia and the South Pacific, as well as USA and Canada