Food Handler Training
Our course meets the mandatory Food Handler training requirements (FSANZ 3.2.2A).
Preferred Training Provider for Hundreds of Brands
Food Handler Training Made Easy!
Food Handler Training is a great way to learn proper food safety practices and comply with the requirements of Food Standards Code 3.2.2A. The new requirements took effect in December 2023.
QMS Audits provides a step-by-step comprehensive food handler training program tailored for different food industries, so you know you will get the right training for your business.
Best of all, it has been developed by QMS Audits, so you rest assured it has been developed by Australia’s most experienced food safety consultants, auditors and trainers.
☑️ Compliance Guarantee – get the right course for FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A or swap it out for free.
☑️ Paperless Supervisor Checklist – Third Party Observation Report completely online and hassle free.
☑️ All food sectors and states – course options for food industry and state requirements.
☑️ Train with the Best – QMS Audits is Australia’s leading food safety consulting company, having developed and written up more than 800 food safety programs, HACCP programs and other systems for small to large food businesses.
Have questions? See our FAQs
Food Handler Course Summary
- Length: 4+ Hours
- Cost: $89 AUD
- Course Outline: 18 Modules
- Format: Online or on-site option for 8+
- Prerequisites: None
- Versions: Hospitality, Retail, Community, Food Processing
- States: All Australian States
1300 404 505
We are here to help.
Need training for multiple students? Contact us about our group packages.
Industry-Specific Food Handler Training
Learn exactly what you need to know to get certified, pass an inspection, and keep customers safe for your food industry. Our specialized courses focus on what matters to you and save time.
Hospitality
FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
LEVEL 1
Business Types
- Restaurants, cafes, and bars
- Caters, food services, and kitchens
- Food prep for consumption on site
Units of Competency
- SITXFSA005 – Use hygienic practices for food safety
Health & Community
FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
LEVEL 1
Business Types
- Aged care, childcare, and hospitals
- Businesses serving vulnerable people
Units of Competency
- HLTFSE001 – Follow basic food safety practices
Retail
FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
LEVEL 1
Business Types
- Supermarkets, delis, and sandwich shops
- Food preparation for retail sale
- Handling processed food
Units of Competency
- FBPFSY1002 – Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
Food Processing
FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
LEVEL 1
Business Types
- Food processing sites that manufacture food and have minimal direct contact with consumers.
Units of Competency
- FBPFSY1002 – Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
All Category 1 & 2 Food Businesses across Australia
Must Now Comply with FSC 3.2.2A
- New legislation affects all food businesses, incl. South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory
- All category 1 and category 2 businesses must have a trained food safety supervisor on staff in each location
- All food safety supervisors must undergo training through an RTO under their industry category
- Food Safety Supervisor training must be completed every 5 years
- New legislation and requirements apply to all states, not just Victoria, New South Wales, ACT and Queensland.
Course Summary
Food Handler Course Features
- Complete online course
- Statement of attainment issued quickly
- High quality training materials
- Training tailored to your sector
Once all assessments are successfully completed, students receive a Nationally Recognised Statement of Attainment (Food Handler Certificate) for the appropriate units of competency relating to the sector in which you or your business operates.
Our units of competency are as follows.
Hospitality:
- SITXFSA005 – Use hygienic practices for food safety
Retail:
- FBPFSY1002 – Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
Health:
- HLTFSE001 – Follow basic food safety practices
Food Processing:
- FBPFSY1002 – Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
Yippee!! There are no training prerequisites for any of our food handler training courses.
But, please come ready to learn, as we have lots to teach you.
As food safety auditors, we loooove food safety, so we are always hoping your appreciation grows through this course.
This course is split into lessons that can be accessed at any time once logged into your account.
Lesson 1: Contamination
Lesson 2: Biological Hazards
Lesson 3: Bacteria and Potentially Hazardous foods
Lesson 4: Allergens
Lesson 5: Chemicals, Physical and Quality Hazards
Lesson 6: Food Regulations
Lesson 7: Hygiene of Food Handlers
Lesson 8: What Food Handlers Must Do
Lesson 9: Personal Hygiene Task
Lesson 10: Handwashing
Lesson 11: People
Lesson 12: Cleanliness
Lesson 13: Premises and Equipment
The Health & Community sector course has an additional 4 lessons.
Students can take their time completing these lessons, save their progress and come back to the course at any time.
Participants will only be issued their Food Handler certificate upon successful completion of the course.
Hospitality businesses that prepare and serve food intended to be consumed on site should have a trained food handler on site. This includes restaurants, cafes, clubs, hotels, bars, and more. QMS Audits’ Hospitality Food Handler training course covers the following units of competency:
• SITXFSA005 – Use hygienic practices for food safety
These units will be printed on your Statement of Attainment upon completion of the course.
Retail businesses that sell food require a food handler training to ensure employees involved in preparing, displaying and selling food within a retail environment are following food safety laws. Our Retail Food Handler training course covers the following units of competency
• FBPFSY1002 – Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
which will be printed on your statement of attainment upon completion of the course.
Businesses that serve food to vulnerable people would be classed as a food business that is in the health and community sector require a trained food handler.
This training course covers the following units of competency:
• HLTFSE001 – Follow basic food safety practices
This unit will be printed on your Statement of Attainment upon completion of the course.
Please click here to enrol.
Businesses that manufacture and process food with minimal contact with the consumer.
This training course covers the following units of competency:
- FBPFSY1002 – Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
This unit will be printed on your Statement of Attainment upon completion of the course.
All assessments for our Food Handler courses are completed online. Throughout the course, students will be required to:
- Complete a series of small multiple-choice quizzes throughout your learning
- Complete a longer multiple-choice quiz at the end of each lesson, scoring 100% within 3 attempts
- Fill out a Do’s and Don’ts of personal hygiene activity
- You will be required to submit a Supervisor observer checklist to comply with government requirements.
For this you will need to nominate a supervisor from your workplace or anyone in the food industry who is able to directly observe you carrying out Food Handler duties in person in a food business.
This course is fully online and self-paced. Students must have access to a device such as a laptop, computer, tablet or phone with an internet connection in order to complete the course. Students will also need:
- A modern web browser such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Safari.
- An email address
QMS Audits is one of the largest food safety training companies in Australia. We love food safety. Having written up food safety programs for more than 800 clients in the last 10 years, we know what auditors are looking for.
We train more than 1000 students in HACCP and other food safety courses. We have an Auditor Academy where we train up even more students, including Environmental Health Officers and auditors from government regulators.
Ten years ago, we started from a spare bedroom, now we have 11 amazing staff whom we love, as well as rely on the efforts of 15 contract auditors and 2 contract trainers.
Yes, it is true!
We train up lots of Food Safety Auditors through our Auditor Academy. Many of our Auditor Academy students are Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) working for local councils around Australia. Some work for the Certification Bodies, such as Aus-Meat and others work for some of the government regulators.
Its the same learnings, same Food Standards Code and same food safety principles (sometimes its even the same slide presentation…shhhhh…but lets not tell them!) So you can rest assured, we have a deep understanding of the food standards code, compliance requirements and what good food safety looks like. Did we mention, we really, really like Food Safety?
Why Choose QMS Audits?
Meets FSC 3.2.2A
Our course is designed specifically to meet the new standard 3.2.2A that applies across all states.
Self paced, online
Start today! Take learning into your own hands with our self-paced, completely online training course
Receive Certificate Quickly
Upon completion of the course requirements, we will issue your Food Safety Supervisor Certificate within hours.
NSW Approved
Additional Support
You don’t need to worry about getting stuck or needing help. We offer support from experts in the food safety industry in real time.
Simple, Realistic, Effective
Completing our course is a hassle-free experience with short assessments at the end of each lesson and an online supervisor checklist.
Food Safety Laws by State
All of QMS Audits’ Food Safety Supervisor training courses meet the new requirements introduced in Food Standards Code 3.2.2A and are FSANZ complaint across all states. NSW students can opt in to receive an additional NSW approved certificate upon completion to comply in NSW.
• The new FSC Standard 3.2.2A took effect in NSW from 8 December, 2023.
• In NSW, retail businesses such as supermarkets and canteens will be required to have a Food Safety Supervisor for the first time. The FSS training certificate will be required to be updated every 5 years.
• All retail, hospitality and food service businesses need to appoint at least one Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) per premise if the food they prepare and serve is ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (needs temperature control), and not sold and served in the supplier’s original package.
• In NSW, only FSS supervisor training undergone through RTOs Approved by the NSW Food Authority are recognised. The training must include the extra NSW module. Students upon completion will receive a NSW Food Safety Supervisor Certificate. Please call us on 1300 404 505 if you need further clarification.
• Businesses licensed with the Food Authority do not need Food Safety Supervisor. Examples of these types of businesses include Eggs, Dairy, Meat, Seafood, Shellfish, Plant products, hospitals and aged care facilities. These businesses are encouraged to undergo our 2 day HACCP Principles and Applications training.
• NSW has specific requirements for FSS including training in food act offences, safe egg handling, allergen management and cleaning and sanitising practices. QMS Audits is a Registered Training Organisation approved to cover these topics by the the Food Authority.
• Only the Hospitality and Retail FSS courses are recognised by the NSW Food Authority. Please be aware each state has different requirements.
• In NSW, food safety requirements are governed by the Food Act 2003 (NSW) and the Food Regulation (2015).
• The NSW Food Authority is an agency that is part of the Department of Primary Industries. The NSW Food Authority works with NSW Health and local councils to monitor food safety compliance.
• The sale and production of food in Victoria is controlled by the Food Act 1984.
• Victoria has a classification system for food businesses, ranging from Class 1 (highest risk) to Class 4 (lowest risk). Under the new changes outlined in standard 3.2.2A, all Class 1, most Class 2 and Class 3A businesses are required by law to have a trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) on site.
• Food Safety Supervisors don’t have to be on the premises at all times but must be able to know food is being handled safely when they are not on the premises.
• Every Food Safety Supervisor must complete the relevant training for their food sector – Hospitality, Retail, Health, Community or Food Processing.
• After 8 December, 2023 Food Safety Supervisors in Victoria will need to be recertified every 5 years. If they were certified before that date, then they are exempt for 5 years from the certification date.
• Queensland Health and local government jointly oversee food safety.
• Food Safety Supervisors in Queensland may include the licensee, proprietor, or an employee, and multiple supervisors are recommended. They also must be reasonably available.
• In Queensland, it has always been a requirement that licensed food businesses employ a Food Safety Supervisor. The recent changes in FSS requirements outlined in standard 3.2.2A mean that any appointed Food Safety supervisor must achieve a statement of attainment for the units of competency relevant to their business sector. This must be issued by an RTO and renewed every 5 years.
• The ACT Health Protection Service regulates food safety and conducts food business inspections.
• Each food business must have a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS).
• New food businesses applying for registration for the first time must appoint a FSS by lodging a copy of the completion certificate and proof of completing all training modules.
• Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) in SA must have completed a relevant hospitality, retail or health FSS course within the last five years.
• Under the new changes outlined in standard 3.2.2A, all category 1 and 2 food businesses will be required to have an RTO qualified Food Safety Supervisor on site as of 8 December, 2023.
• Category 1 businesses make unpackaged potentially hazardous food into potentially hazardous read-to-eat food for customers. Category 2 businesses don’t make but minimally handle and sell ready-to-eat food that has arrived unpackaged or is unpackaged by the business.
• NT uses a classification system based on factors like food type and customer use.
• Food Safety Supervisors in NT oversee daily food safety practices and the training of Food Handlers.
• As defined by the Standard, category 1 and 2 food businesses will be required to have an RTO qualified Food Safety Supervisor on site as of December 8 2023.
• Food safety in WA is governed by the Food Act 2008, enforced by WA Health.<br>
• WA requires food business registration for businesses that handle unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat and served straight to the customer. This standard includes mobile food businesses like market stalls and food trucks. <br>
• Food Safety Supervisors in WA oversee daily food safety practices and training of Food Handlers.<br>
• As defined by the Standard 3.2.2A, category 1 and 2 food businesses will be required to have an RTO qualified Food Safety Supervisor on site as of December 8 2023.
• Under this act, it is required that food businesses gain registration from their Local Government Authority.
• Food Safety Supervisors in TAS are required in businesses that handle food that is unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat and/or sold directly to customers (fundraising events are exempt). They are responsible for implementing daily food safety practices and training Food Handlers.
• As defined by the Standard 3.2.2A, category 1 and 2 food businesses will be required to have an RTO qualified Food Safety Supervisor on site as of December 8 2023.
Food Handler FAQ
If your question has not been answered by the FAQ, don’t worry! QMS Audits has developed a detailed help centre to answer other queries you may have about our online Food Handler and Food Safety Supervisor training.
Still not finding the answer you are looking for, please contact us on 1300 404 505.
Yes! We would love to come to your site to deliver Food Safety Supervisor training. The cost of this training is usually the equivalent of 8 or more people and discounts do apply for 10 or more students. You will need an area for us to deliver the training and we will charge for travel. Please call our office on 1300 404 505 for a quote or email info@qmsaudits.com.au
Most food businesses in Australia are affected by the new Standard, across all states and territories.
Specifically, food handlers in a Category 1 or 2 business need to complete a food safety training course or be able to prove to an auditor they have the skills and knowledge required. Our food handler courses meet the requirements of 3.2.2A. Category 1 and 2 includes any food retailer, food service or caterer that handles unpackaged potentially hazardous food (PHF) or that processes unpackaged PHF and sells it as ready-to-eat food. Businesses that handle food for or at a fundraising event only are exempt.
The term ‘Level 1’ is used for Food Handler training. The Food Handler course is a Level 1 course and meets all Food handler training requirements as per FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A.
Food Handlers who want to become Food Safety Supervisors can enrol in ‘Level 2’ of the Food Safety Supervisor course. Level 2 includes an additional unit of competency.
In this course you will learn how to:
- Handle food in a safe and compliant manner.
- Understand the key roles and responsibilities of a Food Handler within the industry in which your business operates.
This course is intended for anyone who needs training in food handling to comply with 3.2.2A.
If your business falls under a category 1 or 2 food business, this course is for you.
The Food Handler courses are fully online and self-paced. This means you have control over your own training and can complete the course at your own pace.
All states and territories must have a Food Safety Supervisor in their food businesses. Previously, only Victoria, NSW and Queensland were affected by this requirement. This means eligible businesses in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT must have a Food Safety Supervisor on staff.
Standard 3.2.2A applies to food service and closely related retail businesses who are defined as either category 1 or 2 businesses in the Standard. Depending on their activities, general examples include:
- Restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels with table service, takeaway and smorgasbords
- Supermarkets and delis
- Takeaway shops
- Mobile food vendors and juice bars
- Hospitals and hospices
- Aged care facilities
- Childcare centres
