For many people, a first aid course is something you have to do, whether it’s for work, compliance, or refresher certification. But what if the course was actually enjoyable? What if it didn’t feel like someone reading a manual aloud, and instead felt like a room where you could talk, move, ask questions, and genuinely learn something useful?

That’s exactly the experience Nerilee, one of MediTrain’s instructors, aims to create in her classes. With years of teaching behind her, she knows that people don’t all learn the same way, and that first aid is too important to be boring.

“I don’t talk at people — I talk with them.”

Nerilee’s background is in fitness instruction and adult education. She has completed all her first aid instructor training, but what she personally brings to her first aid courses is just as valuable: a deep understanding of how people learn.

“I’ve taught so many instructors over the years,” she says. “I know that some people learn by listening, some need to see it, and some need to do it. So I try to bring all of that into the day.”

At the start of every course, she uses what she calls the “INTRO” framework:

  • I – Introduce: who she is and what to expect
  • N – Name: get to know everyone
  • T – Tell: outline the day
  • R – Reassure: remind people it’s okay to make mistakes
  • O – Organise: get into small groups, set the tone

From there, the class becomes highly interactive, a mix of demonstration, discussion, questions, roleplay, hands-on scenarios, and the occasional humour to break the tension.

“I always say to them: this is your class. If you want a video, we’ll watch one. If you want to practise more, we’ll do that. You tell me how you learn best.”

More than ticking a box

One of the most powerful things about the way Nerilee teaches is how much she adapts to the room. She reads the energy and changes things up throughout the day. That might mean setting up a fake scene in the classroom to simulate a dislocated shoulder, or getting people up to act out a triage scenario using MediTrain’s flashcard tools.

“If people are looking tired, I get them walking. If they’re more introverted, we do smaller group work. If they’re up for it, we act things out. The more people do, the more it sticks.”

And that’s the point. It’s not about remembering technical terms or ticking compliance boxes. It’s about actually being able to help someone when it counts.

How do you keep it interesting — even for refreshers?

First aid isn’t new for everyone in the room. Nerilee says she often has people who’ve done it “a trillion times”,  and it’s important to acknowledge that. But rather than letting them check out, she brings them in.

“I’ll say, right, you’re going to help me teach this class today. And they laugh at first, but then they lean in. Because if you can show someone else what you know, you remember it better.”

By getting experienced learners to demonstrate, explain, or reflect on their knowledge, she turns a repeat course into something active - not passive.

Keeping it simple — and safe

First aid can be a serious topic. But it shouldn’t feel overwhelming or inaccessible. “I keep it simple,” she says. “There’s always a plan. And this is the safest place to get it wrong. This is where we learn.”

Her classes include people from all walks of life, and sometimes, from all languages too. “If someone’s struggling with English, I use mobile translators, visual examples, and demonstrations. You don’t have to understand every word if you can see what to do and practise it.”

Real training, real impact

Nerilee says the feedback is clear, learners tell her MediTrain courses feel more practical, more relaxed, and more useful than others they’ve taken.

“They say things like, ‘This was actually enjoyable’ or ‘I remembered so much more than I expected.’ That’s the best feedback I can get.”

Want to see what a MediTrain course feels like?

Every trainer has their own style, but all MediTrain instructors are committed to the same goal: helping people feel confident in what to do when it matters.If you’re thinking about booking a course, or if your certificate is due for renewal, browse our first aid courses in Auckland or find a location near you.