Food Handler training is an essential layer of protection against food-borne illness and allergic reactions.
More than four million cases of food poisoning are reported each year, with over 31,000 of these resulting in hospitalisation. On top of that, Australia also has one of the highest food allergy rates in the world, with food allergies impacting approximately 1 in 10 infants and around 1 in 50 adults.
To comply with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) regulations, Food Handlers must understand the common causes of these food-related incidents and how to mitigate them. This involves participating in a professional Food Handler course with robust assessment criteria.
In this blog, we will explore the comprehensive Food Handler course provided by the Australian Institute of Food Safety (AIFS), focusing on the assessment activities that must be completed to achieve certification.
Before we look at the assessment process in more detail, let’s start with an overview of the topics covered by the course.
AIFS offers sector-specific Food Handler courses for Hospitality, Health & Community and Food Processing. Each of these courses covers a specific unit of competency encompassing the relevant food safety knowledge required to be a Food Handler in that sector:
The Food Handler course for Hospitality covers the following topics:
The Food Handler course for Health & Community covers the following topics:
The Food Handler course for Health & Community includes 13 interactive lessons:
The Food Handler course includes various assessment activities designed to test the knowledge and skills acquired while studying the above topics.
You must successfully navigate several lesson quizzes and a case study task during the training. Once these sections are complete, an Observer Report must be submitted, verifying the successful completion of practical tasks such as hand washing.
At the end of each lesson, you will be given a multiple-choice quiz to complete. All questions are based on information provided during the lesson and must be answered correctly before moving on to the next section.
The purpose of these quizzes is to verify your understanding of each topic as you progress through the course.
After completing all the lessons, there is a short case study activity to take part in. This section requires you to read through a case study scenario in detail before answering multiple questions relating to the information provided.
As with the lesson quizzes, you need to achieve full marks to progress to the next phase of the course.
Practical skills need to be assessed, too. This assessment is done through the Observer Report, which is designed to gather evidence that determines whether you can perform tasks to the standard expected in a workplace.
These tasks must have been carried out under the supervision of the nominated person, usually a co-worker or supervisor. The nomination of this individual takes place during the registration process.
They will receive an email allowing them to print the Observer Report form or submit it online. This document provides AIFS with evidence that you successfully performed all practical food safety tasks required within the specified timeframe.
The observed tasks can be historic but need to have occurred on multiple occasions within the last 12 months and under various conditions. A mixture of real-life and simulated activities can be included in the report, allowing you to role-play certain tasks where necessary.
Different tasks will be assessed depending on the sector-specific Food Handler course you participate in.
Hospitality
The Food Handler course for Hospitality includes eight Observer Report tasks:
Health & Community
The Food Handler course for Health & Community includes 11 Observer Report tasks:
Food Processing
The Food Handler course for Food Processing includes 10 Observer Report tasks:
AIFS is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) approved by the government to deliver Food Handler training across every state and territory in Australia.
Upon successfully completing the AIFS Food Handler course, you will receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment verifying the unit of competency achieved. This document is proof of certification and may be requested by Environmental Health Officers during routine inspections.
The certification process is fast and efficient, enabling you to meet compliance requirements immediately. The course itself can be completed in 3-4 hours. Following that, a Statement of Attainment will typically be issued within 1-2 business days.
If you choose the Express Certification option, your assessment will be processed as a high priority. This typically means you will receive your Statement of Attainment within 1 business day once you have submitted all required assessment material.
As you have seen, Food Handler training and assessment are essential for achieving compliance with FSANZ regulations. The AIFS Food Handler course ensures you have all the knowledge and skills required to recognise potential food safety hazards and take the relevant action to protect consumers.
Guarantee compliance by enrolling with AIFS today, or get in touch for help finding the right course for you.