When handling and preparing food, it's essential to keep high standards of cleanliness. This ensures customer safety and helps prevent illness in the community. Wondering how to get your food safety certificate in Australia? In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps: finding an accredited course, completing the training, and obtaining certification. Follow our steps and soon, you’ll be well on your way to learning how to handle food safely and meet legal standards in the food industry!
Key Takeaways
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Having a food safety certificate is crucial for food businesses to legally comply with regulations and prevent foodborne illnesses.
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To get certified, choose an accredited course, complete the necessary training and modules, and receive your Statement of Attainment.
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Implementing robust food safety practices, like proper handwashing and avoiding cross-contamination, are essential for ongoing compliance and customer safety.
Understanding Food Safety Certification
Food safety certification is an important credential that ensures individuals in food businesses have the necessary knowledge and skills to handle food safely. Whether you’re running a cosy café or work in a bustling restaurant, having a certified food safety supervisor is not just a best practice – it’s a legal mandate.
In Australia, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Standard 3.2.2A requires food businesses to have at least one certified food safety supervisor on their premises. As of December 2023, food safety supervisors must also have a certification that is no older than 5 years. These regulations are in place to ensure that someone with thorough training in food safety is always available to oversee safe food handling practices. The importance of this role cannot be overstated, as it significantly reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses, which can have devastating consequences for both customers and businesses.
Moreover, the recent updates to food safety standards mandate that all food service establishments ensure their employees receive proper food handler training before they start preparing high-risk foods. This means that everyone involved in food preparation is well-versed in maintaining hygiene and preventing contamination.
Choosing the Right Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
Selecting the right Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is a crucial step in acquiring a food safety certificate. It’s important to ensure that the RTO provides a course compliant with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). This compliance guarantees that the training covers all necessary food safety regulations and standards.
Look for an RTO like Access All Areas Training. We offer 24/7 online access to engaging content and course materials through our digital training platform. If you’re juggling work and study commitments, our online food safety courses allow you to complete the training at your own pace.
How to Get a Food Handlers Certificate
Obtaining a food safety certificate might seem overwhelming, but it's straightforward when broken into simple steps.
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CHOOSE A COURSE: Start by choosing an accredited course in Food Safety that matches your needs, whether that’s Basic Food Safety, Food Supervisor or the combined Food Supervisor Skill Set.
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REGISTER & PURCHASE: Once you've selected a course that’s relevant to your state, Register Online to purchase and complete your course.
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COMPLETE YOUR COURSE: Train at your convenience – with access to all the information and resources you need online.
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ATTAIN YOUR CERTIFICATION: Once you have completed the course and submitted all necessary documentation, your performance will be assessed. Upon successful completion, a Statement of Attainment is processed, often within a few days, and this nationally accredited certification will validate your skills and knowledge as a certified food handler or food safety supervisor.
How to Become a Food Safety Supervisor
If you want to level up your food safety training and become a certified food safety supervisor, here’s how.
If you have already completed a basic food safety course (unit SITXFSA005) then you’ll also need to complete the SITXFSA006 unit to complete your FSS certification. Access All Areas Training offers both units in a single combined course, the Food Supervisor Skill Set.
After completing your desired course, you will need to have your food business nominate you as their food safety supervisor. This nomination is a formal acknowledgment that you are responsible for overseeing safe food handling practices within the establishment. By following these steps, you will be well on your way to becoming a certified food safety supervisor, ready to implement and uphold the best food safety practices in your workplace.
Completing the Food Safety Training
At Access All Areas Training, our food safety training typically covers various essential topics, including food handling, contamination prevention, and hygiene practices. Each module is designed to provide a thorough understanding of how to maintain safe food handling practices as outlined in a food safety program within a workplace.
One of the key aspects of the training is learning how to prevent food contamination. This includes separating raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from other ingredients to prevent cross-contamination. Additionally, food handlers must be diligent about their personal hygiene, such as washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before beginning food preparation. These practices are vital for maintaining a safe and clean food preparation environment.
Another critical component is understanding how to check the internal temperature of cooked dishes using a food thermometer to ensure they fall within the required range. This step is crucial for killing harmful bacteria and ensuring that the food is safe to consume.
By successfully completing our food safety training, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to handle food safely and prevent food borne illness.
Summary
In a nutshell, getting a food safety certification is vital for anyone in the food industry. It ensures that whether you’re prepping, storing, cleaning, serving or even transporting food, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle food safely. Start today and begin your journey to becoming certified in food safety!