Neffy is now on the PBS. Information for First Aid Trainers
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Neffy is Now on the PBS. Is Your First Aid Training Ready?
From 1 July 2026, Neffy, Australia’s first adrenaline nasal spray for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). For eligible Australians, that means a pack containing two Neffy devices now costs up to $25 on the general PBS, or $7.70 for concession card holders, compared with a recommended retail price of around $194 on a private prescription.
For people at risk of anaphylaxis, that’s fantastic news. Lower cost means improved access and, over time, we can expect to see Neffy carried by more Australians.
For first aid trainers, however, this announcement is about much more than price. Instead, it signals another important evolution in the way we prepare learners for anaphylaxis emergencies.
The Principles Haven’t Changed. The Devices Have.
The management of anaphylaxis remains exactly the same.
Recognise anaphylaxis early. Administer adrenaline without delay. Call 000. Follow the person’s ASCIA Action Plan where available. These principles remain the foundation of good first aid and continue to be supported by Australian evidence-based guidelines.
What has changed, however, is the range of adrenaline devices first aiders may encounter.
For many years, most training courses have understandably focused on adrenaline auto-injectors because they were the devices learners were most likely to see in the community. With Neffy now subsidised through the PBS, that landscape is beginning to change.
As educators, our role isn't simply to teach the devices we've always taught. It's to prepare learners for the devices they'll encounter when it matters most.
Why This Matters for First Aid Trainers
One of the greatest strengths of quality first aid education is that it evolves alongside clinical practice.
As Neffy becomes more widely available, learners attending your courses may already carry one themselves, or they may work in environments where a colleague, student, patient or family member does.
That means questions like these are likely to become increasingly common:
- What is Neffy?
- How is it different from an adrenaline auto-injector?
- Can it be used instead of an adrenaline auto-injector?
- How do I administer it correctly?
- What do I do if this is the device the casualty carries?
These aren’t niche questions anymore. They are becoming part of contemporary first aid practice.
If your courses include allergy and anaphylaxis, learners should leave feeling confident that they could recognise and assist someone carrying any approved adrenaline device available in Australia.
What Should Trainers Be Reviewing?
Fortunately, the introduction of Neffy doesn't require a complete rewrite of your course.
Instead, it provides a timely opportunity to review your training materials and ask whether they still reflect current Australian practice.
Consider reviewing:
- your presentation slides and learner resources
- practical demonstrations of adrenaline devices
- scenario-based activities involving anaphylaxis
- trainer knowledge and confidence when discussing Neffy
- any assessment resources that reference adrenaline devices.
Many trainers regularly review CPR guidelines, AED updates and changes to first aid recommendations. New treatment devices deserve that same attention.
Keeping courses current isn’t just about compliance. It’s about ensuring learners receive education that reflects what they are likely to encounter in real emergencies.
Practical Demonstration Builds Confidence
One of the biggest advantages first aid trainers have is the ability to turn knowledge into practical skill.
Showing learners a picture of a device is helpful. However, allowing them to see it demonstrated, handle a training device and understand how it works builds far greater confidence.
Ultimately, like all first aid equipment, familiarity helps reduce hesitation during an emergency.
As a result, learners will expect to see it included alongside other approved adrenaline devices during practical training.
Reusable Neffy training devices are available through The First Aid Shop, making it easy to demonstrate correct technique during courses without using a live medication device.
For information on administering Neffy click HERE
Staying Ahead of Practice
Professional first aid trainers have always adapted as first aid evolves.
Over the years, we've embraced AEDs becoming commonplace, updated our courses when CPR guidelines changed, and incorporated new evidence and equipment whenever it has improved the education we provide.
Neffy is simply the next step in that evolution.
The fundamentals of anaphylaxis management haven’t changed, but the devices available to the Australian community have.
As first aid trainers, we have an opportunity to ensure our learners are prepared before they encounter Neffy in a real emergency, not afterwards.
That’s what quality education is all about.
Not simply keeping up with change.
Leading it.
Further Reading
For the latest Australian evidence-based information, refer to:
- Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), including ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
- Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia
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