Food businesses in Australia
Free food handler course for Australia
Free course and exam, pay A$19 only for your certificate.
Online food safety training for people who prepare, serve or sell food in cafés, restaurants, takeaways, caterers and other food businesses. It covers the food handler training topics in Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code.
Not nationally recognised. It is food handler training with a certificate of completion, not a food safety supervisor certificate.
No sign-up and no card. Start straight away.
Sample certificate
Food Handler Course (Australia)
Passed with 27 out of 30
Scan it or go to hygieneready.com/verify to check it is genuine.
- About 2 to 3 hours
- A video in every module
- English captions
- Works on any phone
- PDF certificate
- QR code to check it online
Certificates you can check online
Written for Australian food law
14-day refund on your certificate
Who is it for?
Anyone who prepares, serves or sells food in Australia. Food businesses must make sure their food handlers have skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene that match their work, and this course gives you that training.
In the kitchen
Cooks, chefs, kitchen hands and food prep staff.
Front of house
Wait staff, baristas and bar staff who serve food in cafés, restaurants and pubs.
Takeaway and catering
Takeaways, food trucks, bakeries, delis and caterers.
Care and community kitchens
Kitchens in childcare centres, aged care, schools and workplaces.
What does Standard 3.2.2A ask?
Since December 2023, food service, catering and related retail businesses that handle unpackaged, potentially hazardous food must use three food safety management tools. Category one businesses make ready-to-eat food from raw ingredients, such as restaurants, cafés, takeaways and caterers. Category two businesses only handle ready-to-eat food that someone else made.
| Tool | Category one | Category two |
|---|---|---|
| Food handler training | Required | Required |
| Food safety supervisor | Required | Required |
| Records of key activities | Required | Not required |
This course is the first tool: food handler training. The Standard says the training must cover safe handling of food, food contamination, cleaning and sanitising of premises and equipment, and personal hygiene. All four are in the course.
The food safety supervisor is a different role. The supervisor needs a certificate from a registered training organisation or an organisation recognised by the food authority. This course does not give a food safety supervisor certificate.
What is included?
- All 7 modules, based on the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
- A short video in every module, with captions
- Real-life scenarios from cafés, takeaways and kitchens
- A practice quiz at the end of each module
- Final exam of 30 questions in 45 minutes
- Free exam retakes
- Key terms glossary and a printable syllabus
The 7 modules
- 01
Food safety and the law in Australia
Everyone who handles food at work must know how to keep it safe. Under the Food Standards Code, food service businesses must make sure their food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene before they handle unpackaged, high-risk food that is or will become ready to eat.
- 02
Food safety hazards and contamination
A hazard is anything in food that could harm the person who eats it. There are four types, and your job is to stop each one getting into food.
- 03
Bacteria, food poisoning and temperature control
Most food poisoning is caused by harmful bacteria growing in food kept at the wrong temperature.
- 04
Personal hygiene and health
People are one of the main sources of harmful bacteria and viruses in food.
- 05
Cleaning, sanitising, pests and premises
Cleaning removes dirt and grease; sanitising kills the germs you cannot see.
- 06
Food allergens
For people with a food allergy, a tiny amount of the wrong food can kill.
- 07
From delivery to service, and keeping records
Food has to be kept safe at every step, from the moment it arrives to the moment it is served.
The final exam
- 30 multiple-choice questions, free
- Pass with 21 correct answers (70%)
- 45 minutes
- Unlocks when you complete the 7 modules
- Did not pass? See which modules to review and try again for free
Your certificate
It shows your name, your score, the topics covered, the date, the recommended refresher date (3 years later) and a QR code your employer or an inspector can scan to check it online.
This certificate confirms completion of food handler training. It is not nationally recognised training, not a Statement of Attainment and not a food safety supervisor certificate.
Price
- Course and exam
- Free
- Certificate, if you pass
- A$19 GST included
Take the course and the exam without paying anything. If you pass, you pay for the certificate and download it straight away. If you do not pass, you pay nothing and can take the exam again for free.
Start the course freeFor businesses
Certificates for your whole team
Your team takes the course for free and you pay for their certificates in one pack.
- 10 certificatesA$150 + GST · A$15 per learner
- 25 certificatesA$325 + GST · A$13 per learner
- 50 certificatesA$550 + GST · A$11 per learner
Need it today? How to get your certificate today. Questions about the price? What you pay and what is free.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The whole course and the final exam are free, with no card needed. You only pay for the certificate, and only if you pass: A$19, GST included. If you do not pass, you see which modules to review and take the exam again for free.
Do I need to sign up?
Not for the course and the exam: you start straight away. You only create a free account when you pay for the certificate, so it is saved and you can download it again at any time.
Is this nationally recognised?
No. Food handlers do not need a nationally recognised course under Standard 3.2.2A; your employer must make sure you are trained before you handle unpackaged, high-risk food. If you need a food safety supervisor certificate, you need a registered training organisation.
What does the course cover?
The four topics Standard 3.2.2A names for food handler training: safe handling of food, food contamination, cleaning and sanitising, and personal hygiene. It also covers temperature control and the 2-hour/4-hour rule, pests and premises, the allergens that must be declared in Australia, and receiving, storage, display and records.
Does it work in every state and territory?
The Food Standards Code applies in every state and territory, and the course teaches it. Some details, such as how a business registers and who inspects it, depend on your state or territory and your council. Your employer decides whether your training fits your job.
How long does it take?
About 2 to 3 hours, at your own pace, on your phone or computer. You can stop and carry on another day: your progress is saved.
What is on the certificate?
Your name, your score, the topics covered, the date, the recommended refresher date (3 years later) and a QR code your employer or an inspector can scan to check it. You download it as a PDF as soon as you pay.
How often should I do it again?
FSANZ has not set a refresher period. We recommend doing the training again every 3 years, or sooner if your job or the rules change.
Can I train my whole team?
Yes. There are certificate packs for businesses: 10 for A$150, 25 for A$325, 50 for A$550, plus GST. Email us and we will set it up.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. Ask within 14 days of paying for your certificate and we refund it in full. The certificate is then cancelled and can no longer be checked online.
Were you given a certificate and want to check it? Verification page.