Food safety training in the health sector - learn who requires it, how to comply and what it means to be a properly trained Food Safety Supervisor and Food Handler.
Laws & Requirements
Overview
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By Food Sector
    Hospitality Sector
    Retail Sector
    Health & Community Sector
    Food Processing Sector
    Transport & Distribution Sector
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Food safety training for health & community

If you work in the health and community sector preparing and/or serving food to vulnerable people, you and your employees may need specific training to meet food safety laws.Vulnerable people include the sick, pregnant women, the elderly, children and babies.Typical health and community organisations include:
  • Hospitals and medical facilities
  • Childcare facilities
  • Aged care facilities
  • School canteens and tuckshops
  • Other community groups
Food safety training for health & community

How to comply with food safety laws

for-job-seekers-icon-Train your Food Safety Supervisor

Train your Food Safety Supervisor

Australian health and community businesses in certain states require at least one properly trained Food Safety Supervisor.
for-job-seekers-icon-Apply for your business licence

Apply for your business licence

See your local council to apply for your business licence to start your health and community business.
for-job-seekers-icon-Train your Food Handlers

Train your Food Handlers

Not just kitchen staff, but any employee who serves, moves, delivers or cleans food or food equipment.
for-job-seekers-icon-Be food audit ready

Be food audit ready

Keep your proof of nationally recognised food safety training nearby for food safety inspections.

Training requirements for health & community businesses

Food Safety Supervisor RequirementsAs per Food Standard 3.2.2A, it's a mandatory requirement that health and community 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
  • obtained their certificate within the last 5 years
NSW and NT requirements are a little more complexIn NSW, only retail and hospitality units of competency are recognised by the NSW Food Authority.However, many organisations that identify as being 'health and community' are required to have a Food Safety Supervisor. There are some exemptions to this such as businesses included in the Vulnerable Persons (VP) Food Safety Scheme, children's services that don't serve food, and Vulnerable Persons businesses applying for a NSW Food Authority Licence.To understand the specific requirements for your business, you should always clarify with the NSW Food Authority.If you are in NSW when you complete your Food Safety Supervisor training with AIFS, you will receive:
  • your regular Statement of Attainment (for the retail or hospitality units)
  • a certificate issued by the NSW Food Authority
If you're applying for a new food business licence, you'll be asked for the certificate number from this document.The Northern Territory also only recognises retail and hospitality units of competency.Click here to learn more about this course.
Food Handler RequirementsFederal 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 is fully compliant with all Food Handler training requirements as per Food Standard 3.2.2A.Click here to learn more about this course.

Units of Competency

When you complete nationally recognised training, you are awarded a Statement of Attainment which lists the units of competency that you have obtained.When a Health Inspector inspects your premises, they'll check that your Statement of Attainment has the correct units of competency.Food Safety Supervisor courseAfter successfully completing the Food Safety Supervisor course for the health and community sector, you will be awarded the following units:
  • 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
Food Handler courseAfter successfully completing the Food Handler course for the health and community sector, you will be awarded the following unit:
  • HLTFSE001 Follow basic food safety practices
CURRENT UNITS
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UNIT CODE

UNIT TITLE

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

UNIT CODE

UNIT TITLE

HLTFS207C

Follow basic food safety practices

HLTFS309C

Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace

HLTFS310C

Apply and monitor food safety requirements

HLTFS7A

Follow basic food safety practices

HLTFS9A

Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace

HLTFS10A

Apply and monitor food safety requirements

Important InformationAll 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.