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.Food safety training for retail
Whether you run a market stall or supermarket, you and your employees need the right training to meet food safety laws.
A retail business is any business where food is sold to customers (usually to be consumed elsewhere), including:
- supermarkets
- grocers, butchers, bakers and delis
- convenience stores
- service stations
- food takeaways
- market stalls
- caterers
How to comply with food safety laws
Train your Food Safety Supervisor
Most Australian retail food businesses must have at least one properly trained Food Safety Supervisor.
Apply for your business licence
See your local council to apply for your business licence to start your retail business.
Train your Food Handlers
Not just kitchen staff, but any employee who serves, moves, delivers or cleans food or food equipment.
Be food audit ready
Keep your proof of nationally recognised food safety training nearby for food safety inspections.
Training requirements for food retail businesses
Food Safety Supervisor Requirements
In NSW, VIC, QLD and ACT, it's a mandatory requirement that food retail businesses have at least one Food Safety Supervisor on their staff at all times.
This means at least one person must have:
- undergone nationally recognised training
- obtained the required units of competency to be recognised as a Food Safety Supervisor
Additional NSW requirements
If you are in NSW:
- training must be delivered by a NSW Food Authority approved provider - such as AIFS
- you will receive your regular Statement of Attainment when you complete your Food Safety Supervisor training with AIFS
- you will also receive a certificate issued by the NSW Food Authority, sometimes known as the 'green certificate'
If you're applying for a new food business licence, you'll be asked for the certificate number from this document.
Food Handler Requirements
Federal legislation (governed by FSANZ) states that all Food Handlers must be trained in food safety.
Many people are surprised to learn that Food Handlers aren't just those employees who work in the kitchen.
A Food Handler can also be someone who:
- Serves food to customers
- Moves food into storage
- Delivers food
- Cleans equipment and utensils
Simply put, anyone that comes into contact with food or food equipment in a food business is a 'Food Handler'.
All Food Handlers require the necessary food safety training to perform this role.
The Food Handler Course offered by AIFS has been designed to meet this requirement.
Units of Competency
When you complete nationally recognised training, you are awarded a Statement of Attainment. This lists the units of competency that you have obtained.
When a Health Inspector visits your premises, they may ask to see that your Statement of Attainment has the correct units of competency.
Food Safety Supervisor course
After successfully completing the Food Safety Supervisor course for the retail sector, you will be awarded the following unit:
- SIRRFSA001 Handle food safely in a retail environment
Food Handler course
Food Handler training is not industry specific. After successfully completing the Food Handler course you will be awarded the following unit:
- SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety
| UNIT CODE | UNIT TITLE |
|---|---|
| SIRRFSA001 | Handle food safely in a retail environment |
| UNIT CODE | UNIT TITLE |
|---|---|
| SIRRFSA001A | Apply retail food safety practices |
| WRRLP6C | Apply retail food safety practices |
Important Information
All current units replace any expired units of competency.
The units of competency awarded by AIFS are always current, however some out-of-date websites may still refer to expired units.