A key role in the Australian hospitality industry is the food safety supervisor. His is because every licensed food venue in Australia requires at least one food safety supervisor. A Food Safety Supervisor is a trained professional responsible for overseeing food safety within a business. Their primary duties include:

Supervising food handling staff
Maintaining the Food Safety Program
Ensuring safe food handling practices throughout the organization

They also act as the main point of contact for food safety matters, both internally and externally. This includes addressing food safety questions from employees, as well as liaising with local government authorities during inspections or in response to food safety incidents. This guide is here to help you navigate each step of the FSS certification process.

What is a FSS Certificate?

A Food Safety Supervisor Certificate is an official qualification that demonstrates an individual has completed the necessary training to oversee food safety practices within a food business. During the course, you will learn how to implement and maintain food safety protocols, supervise staff, and respond to food safety issues in compliance with industry and government standards. The course provides the Nationally recognised qualifications SITXFSA005 Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety and SITXFSA006 Participate in Safe Food Handling Practices.

Which Businesses Require a FSS?

All retail, hospitality and food service businesses need to appoint at least one Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) per premises if food they prepare and serve is:

ready-to-eat
potentially hazardous, that is, needs temperature control
NOT sold and served in the supplier's original package.

Broadly, this includes all businesses selling potentially hazardous food to the public that are not licensed by the Food Authority, such as: cafes, restaurants, quick service venues, takeaway shops, pubs and clubs with food service areas, mobile vendors, home-based businesses, caterers, motels, supermarkets selling potentially hazardous food (such as hot-chickens) and outlets that sell food through third party ordering apps. Also included are:

school canteens
children’s services that provide meals, including out of school hours care
supermarkets
delicatessens
greengrocers
coffee vendors that sell unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat food
boarding schools, and
correctional centres.

Who needs a FSS Certificate?

Every licensed food business will need a food safety supervisor. This is a person who is reasonably available to advise and supervise each food handler at a food business on a day-to-day basis. There may be more than one food safety supervisor for each food business. Every food handler does not need to get a Food Safety Supervisor Certificate but it can’t hurt to have one!

How do I get a FSS in Australia?

Getting a Food Safety Supervisor Certificate in Australia requires students to take an accredited course by a registered training organisation (RTO) like CTA Training Specialists. We are accredited to offer Food Safety Courses in QLD, VIC, NSW, WA, SA, ACT and NT.

In New South Wales, you will receive two certificates on completion of this course including the New South Wales Food Authority Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (Blue & Orange Certificate). This will be issued and sent via unregistered post that should arrive within ten business days to the residential address provided on enrolment (public holidays not included) after the Statement of Attainment has been issued.

Can I do a FSS Online?

Yes, you can complete a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) course online in all Australian states and territories. CTA Training Specialists offers a fully accredited, self-paced online FSS course that's available 24/7 for every Australian state and territory except for Tasmania.

What does the FSS course cover?

There are 2 core sections in the online Food Safety Supervisor Course to complete followed by a final assessment. Each section includes video, readings, interactive activities and case studies to assist in your learning experience. This online Food Safety Supervisor course for the hospitality and retail industries covers the skill and knowledge requirements common to all States and Territories. Some legislative requirements and knowledge will differ across borders.

SITXFSA005 Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety

Element 1: Follow hygiene procedures and identify food hazards

Follow organisational hygiene procedures.
Report unsafe practices that breach hygiene procedures promptly.
Identify food hazards that may affect the health and safety of customers, colleagues and self.
Remove or minimise the hygiene hazard and report as appropriate for follow-up.

Element 2: Report any personal health issues

Report personal health issues likely to cause a hygiene risk.
Report incidents of food contamination resulting from personal health issues.
Cease participation in food handling activities where own health issue may cause food contamination.

Element 3: Prevent food contamination

Maintain clean clothes and use required personal protective equipment, including appropriate bandages and dressings where required.
Prevent food contamination from clothing and other personal items.
Prevent unnecessary direct contact with ready to eat food.
Ensure hygienic personal contact with food and food contact surfaces.
Use hygienic cleaning and sanitising practices that prevent food-borne illnesses.

Element 4: Prevent cross-contamination by washing hands

Wash hands at appropriate times and follow hand washing procedures consistently.
Wash hands using appropriate facilities.

SITXFSA006 Participate in Safe Food Handling Practices

Element 1: Follow food safety program.

Access and use relevant information from organisational food safety program.
Follow policies and procedures in food safety program.
Control food hazards at critical control points.
Complete food safety monitoring processes and complete documents as required.
Identify and report non-conforming practices.
Take corrective actions within scope of job responsibility for incidents where food hazards are identified.

Element 2: Store food safely.

Select food storage conditions for specific food type.
Store food in environmental conditions that protect against contamination and maximise freshness, quality and appearance.
Store food at controlled temperatures and ensure that frozen items remain frozen during storage.
Ensure food is stored to avoid cross-contamination of ingredients.

Element 3: Prepare food safely.

Use cooling and heating processes that support microbiological safety of food.
Monitor food temperature during preparation using required temperature measuring device to achieve microbiological safety.
Ensure safety of food prepared, served and sold to customers.
Prepare food to meet customer requirements, including actions to address allergen requests by customers.

Element 4: Provide safe single use items.

Store, display and provide single use items so they are protected from damage and contamination.
Follow instructions for items intended for single use.

Element 5: Maintain a clean environment.

Clean and sanitise equipment, surfaces and utensils.
Use appropriate containers and prevent accumulation of garbage and recycled matter.
Identify and report cleaning, sanitising and maintenance requirements.
Dispose of, or report damaged or unsafe eating, drinking or food handling utensils.
Take measures within scope of responsibility to ensure food handling areas are free from animals and pests and report incidents of animal or pest infestation.

Element 6: Dispose of food safely.

Mark and separate from other foodstuffs any food identified for disposal until disposal is complete.
Dispose of food promptly to avoid cross-contamination.
Use appropriate documentation to record disposed food items.

How much does a FSS cost?

The Food Safety Supervisor course costs: $89 for QLD, WA, NT, VIC, ACT and SA. In NSW, it costs $120 but this also includes the costs for getting the NSW certificate.

What are the requirements to get a FSS?

There are no education or experience requirements but there are a few functional requirements, they are:

A unique email address not previously used by another student
Unique student identifier (USI), a government requirement.
A suitable device, computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone with internet access and a modern browser ie. Chrome

Does my FSS expire?

Yes, Food Safety Supervisor certificates expire after 5 years.

Can I get a FSS on the same day?

The easy answer is yes. The course will take approximately ten hours to complete, and we recommend allowing extra time for any unforeseen circumstances. To get your certificate in the same day, upload your assessment by 4pm Queensland time on a business day (Monday – Friday). Once they are marked as competent by one of our trainers and assessors, and you have also provided a verified USI number, you will be issued with your nationally recognised Statement of Attainment via email on the same day. If your assessment is marked competent outside of business hours, you will receive your Statement of Attainment by close of business the next business day.

Can International Students and Visa Holders get a FSS?

This course is suitable for international students excluding those on a subclass 500 study visa. If you are a student on a subclass 500 study visa, you are able to study the SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety and SITXFSA006 Participate in safe food handling practices. You can find out more information on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website. Please note that from January 1, 2023 International students studying in Australia with an Australian education or training provider will need to get a USI before being issued with their nationally accredited certificates.

You should now know everything you need to about the FSS course. If you have any more questions or if we didn’t explain something enough, drop us a line.