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In Australia, the Food Standards Code requires anyone who works with food to be trained in food safety.
When you study online with AIFS you will:
- attain a nationally recognised skillset
- complete your course faster
- enjoy the many benefits of AIFS Membership
Official AIFS Food Handler Course
Accepted as meeting all requirements of the Food Standards Code for Food Handlers.
Study online, whenever you want
Enjoy the convenience of doing your training anywhere, at any time of the day or night.
100% recommended rating
Feel confident taking an AIFS course that 100% of students would recommend to a friend.
Get 12 months of free AIFS Membership
Receive updates, tools, resources and more to promote and boost your food handling knowledge.
Finish in a few hours, or take your time
Complete your food safety training in just a few hours, or take up to 12 months.
Receive your documents fast
Receive your documents within 48 hours of course completion. If you need them faster, just get in touch!
Recognised throughout Australia
Be sure of acceptance with a course that's recognised throughout all of Australia.
Get the support you need
Our qualified trainers are here to provide the support you need when you need it.
With AIFS, You Get More than Just a Training Course
Discover the complimentary member benefits for you and your food business
Trusted and Recommended Throughout Australia
Relied on by the Australian food industry for a quality training experience
Discover why Food Handlers love this course
Trusted by thousands of companies
Recommended by thousands of food workers
"It was simple to learn online. I found the assessment easy and the course very useful for food handling."
"I liked the simplicity of the course, but most notable was the speed and help from the support team."
"I liked that the course was very well written and that the assessment was easy to follow."
Course Outline
Develop a solid understanding of food safety in the workplace
When you enrol in the official AIFS Food Handler course, you have access to everything you need to gain a solid understanding of the basics of food safety. With AIFS there are
- no hidden prerequisites
- no hidden assessment requirements
- no hidden fees or charges
Immediate Start
As soon as you sign up, you have instant access to your course.
As the entire training takes around 3 - 4 hours, some students sign up and complete the course on the same day.
If you prefer to take your time, we allow 12 months to complete the course and you can start and stop as often as you like.
Nationally recognised training
AIFS is a Registered Training Organisation that's approved to deliver Food Handler training across all Australian food sectors. Be confident knowing that your AIFS qualification is compliant and will be recognised.
The course is split into 4 lessons, 1 case study, a reading activity and an observer report.
The lessons in the course are:
- Lesson 1 - Food Safety Laws & Responsibilities
- Lesson 2 - Understanding Food Safety
- Lesson 3 - Maintaining a Clean Workplace
- Lesson 4 - Personal Hygiene
- Lesson 5 - Food Safety Programs (Health & Community and Food Processing sectors only)
Quizzes
At the end of each lesson, there's a multiple choice quiz. You have 5 attempts at each quiz and must score 100% to move onto the next lesson. If you don't pass the quiz after 5 attempts, simply get in touch and we'll help you progress to the next section.
Case Study
After you've completed all the lessons, there's a short case study. To complete this, you'll read a short scenario and then answer a multiple choice quiz, which is similar to the quizzes you've already completed at the end of the lessons.
Reading Activity
If you selected the hospitality sector for your training, you will complete a reading activity about Food Safety Plans and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points).
If you selected the health & community or food processing sector, you will complete a reading activity that covers appropriate workwear / footwear in the workplace.
Simply download the PDF from the course page and then complete the multiple choice quiz.
Observer Report
There are some things we can't see you doing through your computer — such as washing your hands or wearing the correct clothes for work. In order to comply with the government requirements for Food Handler training, you do need to demonstrate that you can perform such tasks correctly.
To make this as easy as possible for you, we allow you to be observed by a co-worker or supervisor. Simply provide the name and contact information for your nominated observer when you’re filling out your student registration.
Once you complete your registration, your nominated observer will receive an email with options to print the form or complete it online.
Quality Assurance Process
As part of our quality assurance process, we reserve the right to contact you or your nominated observer to conduct a competency conversation or verification of assessment prior to awarding certification.
There are no training prerequisites for this course - you can simply enrol and get started.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy
Whilst there are no training prerequisites, there are some requirements around language, literacy and numeracy. In order to complete this course you should be able to perform everyday tasks such as:
- Using an instant messenger tool
- Sending SMS text messages
- Responding to customer complaints
- Reading weights on a digital scale
If you have any concerns about the skills required to participate in this course, please contact us and we'll be happy to discuss your situation.
You need to make sure that you have the following in order to be able to complete the Food Handler course:
1. A modern web browser
At AIFS we use some of the latest eLearning technologies to deliver the courses. You will need to have a modern web browser to view and complete the course (Google Chrome is recommended), and it's important that you have Javascript enabled.
2. An email address
During the registration process, we will ask you for your email address. This is a mandatory requirement for you to be able to access our systems. Email addresses cannot be shared by students.
3. Adobe PDF Reader or Adobe Acrobat
Some of the forms that you need to complete (such as the Observer Report) are in PDF format. Ensure that you have the latest version of Adobe PDF Reader.
AIFS courses work on most computers, laptops, tablets and mobile devices.
Click on the 'Play' button below to watch a preview of the Food Handler course.
Be Trained for Your Food Industry Sector
Develop expert skills with sector-specific Food Handler training
Hospitality businesses prepare and serve food for customers to consume in house.
The unit of competency awarded for the Hospitality course is:
- SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety
When you complete the Food Handler course for the Hospitality sector, you're halfway to becoming a Food Safety Supervisor. Contact our support team if you'd like to discuss upgrading your training to attain the full Food Safety Supervisor skill set.
Organisations that serve food to vulnerable people are in the Health and Community sector.
The unit of competency awarded for the Health and Community course is:
- HLTFSE001 Follow basic food safety practices
Food Processing businesses manufacture food and have very little direct contact with consumers.
The unit of competency awarded for the Food Processing course is:
- FBPFSY1001 Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
Training for food sectors
Industry-specific Food Handler training is offered for the Hospitality, Health & Community and Food Processing sectors.
When you complete any AIFS Food Handler training course, you'll receive a Statement of Attainment.
This lists the unit of competency you've attained. Different food sectors have different units.
How do I select my food sector?
Simply click to enrol in the Food Handler course and then choose either the Hospitality, Health & Community or Food Processing sectors.
The sector you choose during enrolment determines which unit of competency is awarded upon successful completion of the course.
If you work or plan to work in the Food Retail or Transport & Distribution sectors, we recommend that you choose the Hospitality sector.
What is a Food Handler?
Understand your responsibilities and legal requirements
A Food Handler is someone who's involved in a food handling activity like preparing, serving, packing, displaying and storing food.
Food Handlers are required to:
- have basic knowledge of food safety and hygiene
- be skilled in the tasks for which they are responsible for
- understand the food safety hazards specific to their job
Anyone who handles food is considered a Food Handler and requires food safety training.
Sometimes the term 'Level 1' is used for Food Handler training. This course is a Level 1 Food Handler course and covers the basic legal requirement for all food workers.
Food workers who wish to learn more about food safety or be nominated as a Food Safety Supervisor should consider the Food Safety Supervisor course (which is a 'Level 1' and 'Level 2' course).
Anyone can enrol in the AIFS Food Handler course. There are no prerequisites and no prior food handling experience or knowledge is required.
Proper food safety training is critical for a wide range food handling tasks and roles in the food industry. Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced food worker, with AIFS Food Handler training you'll be able to:
- meet the Food Standards Code requirement
- attain nationally recognised training
- develop safe food handling skills
A Statement of Attainment is a document (like a certificate) that is issued to a student who has completed a nationally recognised training course.
Once you've successfully completed the AIFS Food Handler course, you will receive a valid Statement of Attainment containing the unit of competency for the industry you've selected indicating that you're qualified to:
- protect customers from food-borne illnesses
- manage hazards in the workplace
- take corrective action, when needed
- report unsafe food handling practices
- follow the Food Safety Program
The training provided by AIFS is nationally recognised and accepted across Australia.
As a Registered Training Organisation, the Australian Institute of Food Safety has been approved to deliver Food Handler training across all food sectors across Australia.
This means that when you train with AIFS, you can feel secure knowing your qualification:
- is compliant
- will be accepted by local councils Australia-wide
- is recommended by Health Inspectors
Helping the Community
Your enrolment will help feed someone in need
1 in 10 Australians rely on food aid each year, yet in Australia we throw out $10bn of food annually. Together we can help to tackle this issue.
Your enrolment = 1 meal to a vulnerable person
We've partnered with OzHarvest to help deliver meals to people facing hunger issues in the Australian community.
When you sign up for an accredited AIFS course, we'll provide OzHarvest with the resources to donate a meal to someone in need.
Photo Credit: OzHarvest
Common Questions
Learn more about what our students ask about this course
How long does the course take to complete?
The online lessons, multiple choice quizzes and case studies take most people around three to four hours to complete.
With the Observer Report and other forms that may need to be completed, the total time for the course is typically a couple of hours more.
However, everyone learns at a different pace. If you've been working in the food industry for years, it's likely you'll already be familiar with much of the course content. If English is not your first language, it may take longer to work through the lessons.
Some AIFS students start training, complete the course, and receive their Statement of Attainment all on the same day.
How do I enrol in the course?
That's easy! Simply click on the blue 'Start Online Now' button on this page and follow the prompts. You'll be enrolled and ready to start in just a few minutes.
All you need to do is supply some basic details (like your name and address) and your credit/debit card information.
If you'd prefer to complete your registration over the phone, that's no problem. Just give us a call on 1300 797 020 and we'll help you to get started.
When will I get my Statement of Attainment?
Our assessors work full-time Monday to Friday and often process Statements of Attainment within a few hours of students completing the course.
That means that many of our students receive their Statement of Attainment via email on the day that they complete their course, and via post a few days later.
Do I need to go somewhere for an exam?
No, you don't need to go anywhere. You can complete the entire course within the comfort of your own home and workplace, at a time that suits you.
You simply complete online multiple choice quizzes at the end of each lesson, and also request someone you've worked with (past or present) to complete an Observer Report about tasks that they've already seen you doing.
Is this the course I need for my food business licence?
No. The training you need to complete to get a food business licence in NSW, QLD, VIC and ACT is the Food Safety Supervisor course.
When you complete the Food Safety Supervisor course, you're issued with a Statement of Attainment containing details of the units of competency you've obtained. If you're in New South Wales, you'll also get a food safety certificate issued from the NSW Food Authority.
These documents are what you need to present to your local council to nominate a Food Safety Supervisor and get your food business licence.
Which food sector should I choose?
AIFS offers sector-specific Food Handler training for:
- Hospitality
- Health & Community
- Food Processing
Choose the industry where you work or plan to work.
If you work (or plan to work) in the Food Retail or Transport & Distribution sectors, we recommend that you choose the Hospitality sector.
How do I select my food sector?
Simply click to enrol in the Food Handler course and then choose either the Hospitality, Health and Community or Food Processing sector.
The sector you choose during enrolment determines which unit of competency is awarded upon successful completion of the course.
Where can I learn more?
The Australian Institute of Food Safety provides comprehensive information about nationally recognised food safety training, as well as general food safety information.
Visit the Resource Library to learn more about effective food hygiene practices and safe food handling principles. Our blogs, news and FAQ sections also contain useful tips and information.
If you still can't find what you need, get in touch with us and we'll be more than happy to help.
