Food safety training

It is estimated that more than five million Australians become ill as a result of consuming unsafe food each year. Over 30,000 of these cases result in hospitalisation.

What is food handler training?

Food handler training must include safe handling of food, food contamination, cleaning and sanitising of food premises and equipment and personal hygiene. Food businesses must ensure all food handlers have completed a food safety training course, or have appropriate skills and knowledge, before they start handling high-risk foods. There are some links to free food handler training below.

What are the requirements?

From 8 December 2023, food service, caterer and related retail businesses in Australia need to meet new food handler training requirements. Under Standard 3.2.2.A – 10, category one and two businesses must ensure each food handler who handles unpackaged, potentially hazardous food that is ready to eat, has, before engaging in that activity:

a) completed a food safety training course; or

b) adequate skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene to do that activity correctly and keep food safe.

These requirements are in place because unpackaged potentially hazardous foods are open to contamination by harmful microorganisms or other hazards immediately before the food is served and eaten, so need careful handling.

What is a Category 1 and Category 2 business?

Category 1 business - A caterer or food service business that processes unpackaged potentially hazardous food into food that is both ready-to-eat and potentially hazardous food. The food is then served to a consumer to eat without any further processing. Category one (higher risk) businesses must implement all three management tools as follows: have certified food safety supervisors, trained food handlers and substantiation of critical food safety controls.

Category 2 business - A retailer of potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat food, where unpackaged food is handled, but not made or processed onsite (other than slicing, weighing, repacking, reheating or hot-holding). Category two businesses must have a certified food safety supervisor and trained food handlers.

Free food safety training

Running a food business often means long, busy hours, with many things to keep track of and manage. Sometimes food safety can be low on the priority list.

I’m Alert food safety training

To help, Council has subscribed to an online I'M ALERT Food Safety program which enables food handlers to complete training for FREE, in their own time and at a location of their choosing. This is is a convenient way for food handlers to achieve the required skills and knowledge.

I'M ALERT Food Safety enables a consistent and efficient delivery of Food Safety Training. The program can be accessed online and includes:

• Basic food safety principles for Food Safety Standards (e.g. temperature control, food receipt, food storage, hygiene of food handlers, etc).
• Interactive tasks and quizzes.
• Training acknowledgement form and certificate (assists a food business operator and staff to demonstrate skills and knowledge requirements).

I'M ALERT Food Safety training

Food Safety Supervisor

See our Food Safety Supervisor webpage for more information.

Importance of food safety training

Most major food-borne illness outbreaks are caused by one of the following:

1. Poor personal hygiene of food handlers
2. Incorrect temperature control of food
3. Inadequate cleaning and sanitising of surfaces and equipment

All employees in a food business are required to have skills and knowledge commensurate with their duties.  This is important to meet legal requirements and to ensure the food they prepare is safe.

If your business causes a food-borne illness outbreak:

• Your licence may be suspended or cancelled
• You may be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars
• You could be personally prosecuted
• Your business could be closed down

Environmental Health Officers can visit a food premises at any time. If serious food safety breaches are found, the business can be closed down immediately.