By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
ON the wall at Hero HQ read the words: “game changers, risk takers, life savers“.
It’s an appropriate mantra for the Pakenham-based business, which is revolutionising the training industry and saving lives in the process.
Sisters Nikki Jurcutz and Rachael Waia started Hero HQ in 2013, utilising Nikki’s skills as a paramedic and Rachel’s background in education.
Their idea was to provide first aid training done differently: to teach vitally important skills in a way that would engage students and empower them to act in emergency situations.
The business now has three branches – Hero HQ provides corporate first aid training, Tiny Hearts specialises in teaching new and expectant parents how to deal with the most common medical emergencies facing babies and children, and the recently-launched Young Hearts teaches first aid with a focus on injuries and issues in young people, including drug and alcohol related issues and mental health.
Starting as a two-woman team operating out of a double garage, the business now employs 30 staff and has successfully trained well over 10,000 people.
A strong social media strategy has played a significant role in its success, with the ‘tinyheartsfirstaid’ Instagram account attracting over 11,000 followers.
Last year, the growing company moved into a spacious new building on Southeast Boulevard in Pakenham, where long desks promote the team-focused culture of the business.
Several other strategies have been implemented to ensure that employees are able to reach their goals in a fun and supportive environment.
Nikki and Rachael meet regularly with their staff and achievements are celebrated with affirmations and awards.
One of the challenges of the business was ensuring all trainers, who are located around Australia, are a part of that culture.
“We’re in regular contact with all of them,” Rachael explained.
“There’s a team Facebook page and we have a strong focus on improving and upskilling our trainers. We recently had our Perth trainer here for three days to continue her training, so we’re able to spend a fair bit of time with them.”
As a result, the pair is inundated with applications each time they advertise, and interview an average of 20 people per vacancy.
They see their location in the growth corridor as an asset to their business.
“We saw a gap in the market in our local community,” Nikki said.
“This is a real growth area, there’s a lot of young people and young families, and there’s a real need for the services we provide.”
Their work to fill that gap has earned them awards on a local and national scale. In 2014 and 2015, they took out Casey-Cardinia Business Awards, and say the support from council has been invaluable.
But their eyes are firmly on the future, with Hero HQ’s services in high demand and their model changing the way businesses and individuals learn first aid.
“There’s really no limit on how big we’d like it to get,” Nikki said. “When people think First Aid training, we want them to think Hero HQ.”
