Whether you're a food worker, business owner or training manager, our food safety courses make it easy for you to meet your legal requirements.
If you work with food - or train people who do - you'll benefit greatly from our complimentary AIFS membership program.
If you're enrolled at AIFS and need some help - or you'd like information about studying with us - this section is a great place to start.
From cafes to catering companies, market stalls to supermarkets, every food business in Australia must meet all federal, state and local requirements for food safety training.
The AIFS Resource Centre offers a wide variety of food safety resources including templates, posters, guides, videos, fact sheets and more. You can also find the latest food safety news and product recalls.
Learn about the AIFS business and our mission to reduce food-borne illness in Australia.
By law, most Australian food businesses must employ at least one Food Safety Supervisor in each premises.
When you study online with AIFS you will:
- meet compliance requirements of councils throughout Australia
- complete your course faster
- enjoy many benefits of your AIFS membership
Official AIFS govt. approved course
Approved and accepted by local councils and Health Inspectors in all states of Australia.
Study online, whenever you want
Enjoy the convenience of doing your training anywhere, at any time of the day or night.
98% recommended rating
Feel confident taking an official AIFS course that 98% of students would recommend to a friend.
Get 2 years AIFS membership
Receive tools, credentials, support and more to promote and boost your food safety knowledge.
Finish in a few hours, or take your time
Complete your Food Safety Supervisor course in just a few hours, or take up to 12 months.
Receive your documents fast
We'll send your documents a few hours after course completion, or even faster if needed urgently.
All states, all food sectors
Be sure of acceptance with the Food Safety Supervisor course approved throughout 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 business
Trusted and Recommended Throughout Australia
Relied on by the Australian food industry for a quality training experience
Discover why our students 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."
Helping the Community
Your enrolment will help to feed two people 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 = 2 meals to those in need
We've partnered with OzHarvest to help deliver meals to people facing hunger issues in the Australian community.
When you enrol onto the official AIFS Food Safety Supervisor course, we'll provide OzHarvest with the resources to donate 2 meals to those in need.
Photo Credit: OzHarvest
Course Outline
Everything you need to be a Food Safety Supervisor, all in one course
When you enrol in the official AIFS Food Safety Supervisor course, you have access to everything you need to be recognised as a qualified Food Safety Supervisor in Australia.
With AIFS, there are:
- no hidden prerequisites
- no hidden assessment requirements
- no hidden fees or charges.
Start immediately, or at your leisure
As soon as you enrol, you have instant access to the course.
As the online components of the course take around 6 - 8 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 Safety Supervisor training across all food sectors throughout all of Australia. We're also:
- accepted by local councils Australia-wide
- recommended by Health Inspectors
So you can feel secure in knowing your AIFS qualification is compliant and recognised.
Meet NSW requirements
AIFS is approved to deliver NSW Food Safety Supervisor certificates on behalf of the NSW Food Authority.
If you want to work in NSW as a Food Safety Supervisor, you'll need this additional certificate.
Simply select this option when enrolling.
There is an extra $30 fee for this certificate - a NSW government fee we get charged to register you into their system and produce your certificate.
The course is split into 7 lessons, 2 case studies 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 - Implementing Food Safety
- Lesson 6 - Food Safety Programs
- Lesson 7 - Monitoring & Controlling Food Safety
If you are in New South Wales, there are also three short reading activities/case studies about safe egg handling, allergen management and cleaning and sanitising practices (to meet NSW Food Authority requirements).
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 Studies
After you've completed all the lessons, there are two case studies. For each case study, 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.
NSW Certification
In 2015, the NSW Food Authority announced some additional requirements for Food Safety Supervisor training. Three key focus areas were determined by the Food Authority - safe egg handling, allergen management and cleaning and sanitising practices.
If you are in NSW, there is an additional reading activity and case study for each of these focus areas.
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 Safety Supervisor 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 follow the instructions on the course page and ask someone in your workplace (past or present) to complete the form.
There are no training prerequisites for this course - you can simply enrol and get started.
Sometimes the terms 'Level 1' and 'Level 2' Food Safety Supervisor are used. This course covers all requirements to become a Food Safety Supervisor - in other words, this is a 'Level 1 & 2' course.
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
- Using email at work
- Responding to customer complaints
- Following a recipe
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 Safety Supervisor 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 sample lesson from the Food Safety Supervisor course.
Be Trained for Your Food Industry Sector
Develop expert skills with sector-specific Food Safety Supervisor training
Hospitality businesses prepare and serve food for customers to consume in house.
The units of competency awarded for Hospitality are:
- SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety
- SITXFSA002 Participate in safe food handling practices
Food retail businesses prepare and sell food to customers for consumption elsewhere.
The unit of competency awarded for Retail is:
- SIRRFSA001 Handle food safely in a retail environment
Food processing businesses manufacture food and have very little direct contact with consumers.
The units of competency awarded for Food Processing are:
- FBPFSY1001 Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
- FBPFSY2001 Implement the food safety program and procedures
Organisations that serve food to vulnerable people are in the health and community sector.
The units of competency awarded for Health & Community are:
- HLTFSE001 Follow basic food safety practices
- HLTFSE005 Apply and monitor food safety requirements
- HLTFSE007 Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace
Any business that transports or stores food is in the transport and distribution sector.
The units of competency awarded for Transport & Distribution are:
- SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety
- SITXFSA002 Participate in safe food handling practices
Training for food sectors
Food Safety Supervisor training differs from sector to sector.
When you complete your official AIFS Food Safety Supervisor course, you'll receive a Statement of Attainment.
This lists the units of competency you've attained. Different food sectors have different units.
How do I select my food sector?
Simply enrol in the Food Safety Supervisor course and complete your student registration.
During registration, you'll provide contact information for a nominated observer and select your food sector from a dropdown menu.
The sector you choose determines which Observer Report will be issued and the units of competency that will be displayed on your Statement of Attainment upon completion of your course.
What about if I'm in New South Wales?
The New South Wales Food Authority recognises the Hospitality & Retail sectors only. When completing your registration, you will only have the option to choose one of these sectors.
If you are unsure which food sector you need to be recognised in, please contact your local council to confirm prior to completing your student registration.
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 six to eight 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 enrol, 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 enrol 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?
Yes, this is the course you need to do to get your food business licence in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
When you complete the course, we'll issue you 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 NSW Food Authority certificate.
These documents are what you need to present to your local council to nominate a Food Safety Supervisor and get your food business licence.
Where can I learn more?
The Australian Institute of Food Safety has an extensive Resource Centre which includes news, articles, a blog, and a comprehensive FAQ section.
In the Resource Centre, we've tried to address the most common questions we get asked as well as the more obscure ones!
If you still can't find what you need then get in touch via email or phone and we'll be happy to help.