Food handler course in Brisbane
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Short answer
You can take our food handler course online from anywhere in Brisbane. The course and the exam are free; you pay A$19 (GST included) for the certificate only if you pass.
The course follows Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code, and your certificate has a QR code your employer can check.
Who checks food businesses in Brisbane?
Food businesses deal with their local council. This is what Brisbane City Council says:
- Every licensed food business in Brisbane gets an Eat Safe Brisbane star rating from the council, after an environmental health officer assesses its food safety practices, including through discussions with staff.[1]
- The council audits each business at a frequency that matches its Eat Safe rating: the higher the rating, the fewer the audits.[1]
- Food business operators must be ready to show a council officer how they manage food safety risks at any time.[1]
Brisbane is in Queensland:
- Under Queensland's Food Act 2006, a café, restaurant, bar or takeaway that sells unpackaged food needs a food business licence from its local council.[2]
What training do food handlers in Brisbane need?
The same as everywhere in Australia. Since December 2023, Standard 3.2.2A has required each food handler who handles unpackaged, potentially hazardous food that is ready to eat to have completed a food safety training course, or to have adequate skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene, before doing that work.[3]
A food safety training course under the Standard covers safe handling of food, food contamination, cleaning and sanitising of food premises and equipment, and personal hygiene.[3] No refresher period has been set, but businesses need to make sure their food handlers' skills and knowledge are adequate and up to date.[3]
The business must also have a certified food safety supervisor to supervise these food handlers.[3] This course does not give a food safety supervisor certificate.
Businesses may keep a record of the training their food handlers have completed, to show authorised officers they meet the requirements.[3]
What does the course include and what does it cost?
The Food Handler Course (Australia) is based on the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and covers the four food handler training topics in Standard 3.2.2A: 7 modules with a quiz in each one and a final exam of 30 questions (pass with 21). The certificate confirms you completed the training.
The course and the exam are free; you pay A$19 (GST included) for the certificate only if you pass. See the course.
Other cities
Sources
- Food safety (Brisbane City Council, no date shown)
- Do I need a food business licence? (Queensland Government, last updated 26 November 2025)
- Food handler training (Food Standards Australia New Zealand, page last updated 1 October 2025)
Do your food handler training online, free
7 short modules, a quiz in each one and a final exam. The course and the exam are free; the certificate costs A$19 (GST included) and you only pay if you pass.