Life Skills and Courses

Build your skills without breaking the bank

We offer free and discounted courses that teach practical skills for daily life, help you find a job, or get you ready for university placements. Many courses are available in person or online, so you can pick the learning style that suits you.

You can learn First Aid and CPR, build café skills like using a coffee machine and handling food in our Café Essentials course, or study AUSLAN with flexible online or in-person classes.

First Aid and CPR

Courses are run by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31869) – Pulsestart Training Solutions. All courses are nationally recognised under the National Health Training Package HLT.

This course is suitable for anyone who may need to provide a first aid response in the workplace or community. It’s also a requirement for many students completing placements in hospitals, community settings and other professional environments as part of their degree.

If you’re completing First Aid training for the first time, we recommend enrolling in the combined First Aid and CPR course (HLTAID011). This qualification is valid for three years, but you’ll need to complete a CPR refresher every 12 months to keep your CPR skills and accreditation up to date. If you simply need to complete the CPR refresher course, you can book via the button below as well.

How it works:

1. If you have not already done so, you need to register for a USI (Unique Student Identifier number) and have that information ready.
2. You need to register via the designated First Aid and CPR course page below. This will redirect you to the Pulsestart bookings page.
3. Click the course number you want to book, then select a Griffith University location.
   • Please note: Students enrolled at Logan, Brisbane, or online can only book for the Logan and Nathan campuses. Gold Coast students cannot book at these locations and are redirected to the Student Guild.
4. Once you have selected your location and time for the course you require, please follow the instructions emailed by PulseSmart.
   • An online theory component MUST be completed before attending the course. 

Cafe Essentials

We have two courses for Cafe Essentials: in-person and online. Both courses are very similar.

Each course qualifies you with the nationally recognised food safety handling certificate (SITXFSA005) that you are required to have to work in a cafe or restaurant, and they both teach you how to use a barista-grade coffee machine.

The main difference is that the In-Person cafe essentials course includes a national qualification that demonstrates to employers you can operate a barista coffee machine (SITHFAB025). Since you need hands-on practice to learn this skill, the online course does not offer a nationally recognised certificate for using the machine. Without in-person training, instructors cannot confirm that you have the skill set they require.

Please note: The online course is reserved exclusively for students at an online campus. If you are a student studying on campus and book the online course, you will receive a refund.

Learn AUSLAN

Among the 130 sign languages used worldwide, one is uniquely Australian: Auslan. Auslan, short for Australian Sign Language, was developed by and for deaf and hearing-impaired Australians. This language is used by nearly 20,000 Australians daily and is a visual form of communication that conveys meaning through hand, arm, and body movements.

Although Auslan is uniquely Australian, it is very similar to British Sign Language (BSL) due to historical similarities, so Australians can often understand BSL and vice versa. We have two AUSLAN course options this trimester

1. Online AUSLAN Course (Registration for Trimester 2 closes 5pm, 17th July 2026)

• Hosted online via Zoom with up to 20 other students in the course
• Cost: $50
• 8-week course from 6 pm – 8 pm
  • Tuesdays starting 21 July 2026
  • Wednesdays starting 22 July 2026
• Participants are required to attend all sessions to receive their certification
• Learn more about our Online AUSLAN course here

2. In-Person AUSLAN Course (SRC, GUPSA, and DAES collaboration)

• Hosted at Nathan Campus
• Cost: $5
• This program spans over 7 weeks in a supportive group setting with up to 50 students. Everyone will have the chance to learn and practice AUSLAN together.
• It is encouraged that students attend all sessions to ensure they don’t fall behind as the course builds on skills learned each week
• Learn more about our In-Person AUSLAN course here

Both courses are great opportunities to develop your AUSLAN skills, so it depends on whether you prefer the flexibility of online learning or the experience of learning in person with others.