Who requires an RSA in VIC?

In Victoria, everyone working in the sale, supply, or service of alcohol must have a valid RSA certificate. This applies to those working in the following license types:

• General
• On-premises
• Late-night
• Packaged liquor

If you need clarification on whether your workplace requires an RSA, please check with your manager or licensee holder. If employed without an RSA, you have one month from starting employment to complete the course. 

Victoria RSA Certificate

Upon completing your RSA course, CTA will submit your details to Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) and issue a Statement of Attainment. 

The Statement of Attainment will be emailed to you straight away. 

LCV emails your official RSA Completion Certificate to the details provided 

If you have received your Statement of Attainment but have not received your LCV Completion Certificate within three weeks, please contact LCV directly for an update. 

Lost RSA Certificates

If you have lost your original RSA Completion Certificate, you can request a new one from LCV for a fee by contacting them at [email protected]. 

Alternatively, you can complete the free refresher and receive a new certificate for free. 

RSA Refreshers in VIC

While your RSA certificate does not expire, the refresher course must be undertaken every three years. 

The course is free and takes 30 minutes to complete. You can access the refresher course here.

Upon completion of your refresher, you will receive a new LCV RSA Completion Certificate. You must give this certificate to your employer to keep on the premises. 

Minimum Age for RSA Victoria

You can take the RSA course when you are under 18 but will have to wait till you are 18 to get a job that involves selling, offering or serving alcohol. 

Approved RSA providers in Victoria

RSA in Victoria can only be delivered by an RTO approved by Liquor Control Victoria (LCV). CTA Training Specialists is an approved provider. The LCV website has a complete list of approved providers. 

Training can be delivered in person, virtually, or online. CTA offers its Victoria RSA course online, which allows you to complete the course and assessment at your own time and place. 

VIC RSA Course Resources

1.   Liquor Control Reform Act 1998
2.   Incident Register – template
3.   Harm Minimisation Plan
4.   Free Drinking Water
5.   Fines and penalties
6.   4 RSA Principles
7.   Intoxication Guidelines
8.   Liquor licensing breaches fact sheet

Key Learning Outcomes

The key learning outcomes for the RSA Online course include:

Follow the principles of responsible service of alcohol

• Identify the provisions of relevant state or territory legislation, licensing requirements, house policy and responsible service of alcohol principles.
• Where appropriate, request and obtain acceptable proof of age prior to sale or service.
• Provide accurate information to customers on alcoholic beverages according to organisation or house policy and government legislation.
• Assist customers with information on a range of non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
• Identify issues related to the sale or service of alcohol to different types of customers, especially those at risk.

Assist customers to drink within appropriate limits

• Use knowledge of industry requirements and professional standards to determine the volume for standard drinks or samples.
• Use a professional manner to encourage customers to drink within appropriate limits.
• Identify erratic drinking patterns as an early sign of possible intoxication and take appropriate action.
• Monitor emotional and physical state of customers for signs of intoxication and signs of illicit or other drug use.
• Where appropriate, offer food and non-alcoholic beverages in accordance with house policy.
• Decline requests for alcohol to be dispensed in a manner that is irresponsible and advise customers of the reasons for the refusal.

Assess alcohol affected customers and identify those to whom sale or service must be refused

• Assess the intoxication levels of customers using appropriate methods.
• Identify factors that may affect individual responses to alcohol.
• Identify customers to whom sale or service must be refused according to state and territory legislation.

Refuse to provide alcohol

• Refuse sale or service in a professional manner, state reasons for the refusal, and where appropriate point out signage.
• Provide appropriate assistance to customers when refusing service.
• Where appropriate, give customers a verbal warning and ask them to leave the premises according to organisational or house requirements, the specific situation, and provisions of state or territory legislation and regulations.
• Use appropriate communication and conflict resolution skills to handle difficult situations.
• Refer difficult situations beyond the scope of your own responsibility to the appropriate person.
• Promptly identify situations that pose a threat to the safety or security of colleagues, customers or property, and seek assistance from appropriate colleagues according to organisational or house policy.