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Food Sectors and Units of Competency in QLD

Written by Australian Institute of Food Safety | Aug 24, 2019 4:00:00 AM

Food Safety Supervisor training in Australia differs from sector to sector, and different food sectors require different units of competency. Food Safety Supervisors in Queensland (QLD) should complete an accredited Food Safety Supervisor course specific to their type of industry. 

Upon successful completion of the course, students are issued a Statement of Attainment (SOA) listing the units of competency they have earned. Their SOA should be kept on the premises to show to Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) upon request.

There are five recognised food sectors in Queensland:

  1. Hospitality
  2. Retail
  3. Food Processing
  4. Health & Community
  5. Transport & Distribution

The units of competency that are required for each industry sector are listed below. 

RETAIL & HOSPITALITY

A retail or hospitality business is any business where food is prepared or sold to customers, for consumption on the premises or elsewhere.

Examples of typical food businesses in the hospitality or retail sectors include restaurants, cafés, caterers for private functions, convenience stores, supermarkets, grocers and delis, hotels, market stalls and takeaways.

In QLD, Food Safety Supervisors in the retail or hospitality sectors should obtain the following units of competency:

FOOD PROCESSING

A food processing business is any business where food is manufactured or processed — for example, wholesale bakers, airline caterers, breweries, flour mills, pre‐prepared meal and wine producers.

In QLD, Food Safety Supervisors in the food processing sector should obtain the following units of competency:

HEALTH & COMMUNITY

Health & community organisations prepare and serve food to vulnerable people like pregnant women, sick people, the elderly, children and babies — for example, hospitals, child care and aged care facilities and school canteens.

In QLD, Food Safety Supervisors in the health & community sector should obtain the following units of competency:

  • 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

TRANSPORT & DISTRIBUTION

If your business transports or stores food and / or beverages, it's a food transport & distribution business — for example, bulk food carriers, food delivery services, warehouses that store food / food products and water carriers.

In QLD, Food Safety Supervisors in the transport & distribution sector should obtain the following units of competency:

Note: These are the same units as awarded for the hospitality sector; the Industry Skills Council for the transport & distribution sector has determined that the training requirements are the same.

CHOOSE YOUR SECTOR

Choosing your food sector is easy. Follow these three simple steps:

  1. Enrol in an accredited Food Safety Supervisor course.
  2. Complete the lessons and case studies (these are the same for all sectors).
  3. Select the appropriate food sector for the Observer Report.

An Observer Report is a student assessment form that must be filled out by a co-worker or supervisor. It verifies that the aspiring Food Safety Supervisor has demonstrated practical food safety knowledge and skills in the workplace.

To enrol in the AIFS Food Safety Supervisor course, visit our course page or contact us: