Is this the same as a food safety supervisor certificate?

No. This is the food handler unit - your own hygiene practice. Food safety supervisor requirements are set by state and local food authorities and generally need more, including SITXFSA006 and a supervisor skill set.

Do I need it outside hospitality?

Very likely. The register names aged care, hospitals, correctional centres, defence, schools, transport and in-flight catering alongside restaurants and bars.

Can I do it fully online?

No. The register requires demonstration in an operational food preparation or service environment, or an industry-realistic simulation with specified fixtures including a designated hand washing sink.

The unit does not expire. Food businesses and local councils may require periodic refresher - check with your employer and your local food authority.

Is it included in cookery qualifications?

Yes. It is a core unit in the SIT cookery and hospitality qualifications, so anyone completing those already holds it.

SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety

About this qualification

SITXFSA005 covers personal hygiene practices that prevent food contamination. It is the basic food handler unit, and at 1,075 providers one of the most widely delivered units in the country.

The scope is much wider than hospitality. The register names restaurants, cafes, clubs, hotels and bars, but also tour operators, attractions, event and conference catering, educational institutions, aged care facilities, correctional centres, hospitals, defence forces, cafeterias, kiosks, canteens, fast food, residential catering, and in-flight and transport catering.

Assessment has to happen somewhere real. The register requires an operational food preparation or service environment — an industry workplace or an industry-realistic simulation — with a designated hand washing sink, antiseptic liquid soap, single use towels and warm running water among the mandatory fixtures.

It is a different thing from food safety supervision. This unit is about your own hygiene practice; supervising a food safety program is SITXFSA006 and above.

Roles it maps to

Settings named on the national register for SITXFSA005.

Food Handler Kitchen Staff Aged Care Catering Hospital Food Services

Commonly held together

Food safety is the second half of the hospitality starter pair, and it reaches into care, health and institutional catering as well.

Single unit · you are hereSITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety
Single unit · the other ticketSITHFAB021 Responsible service of alcohol
Single unit · many venues want oneHLTAID011 Provide First Aid
Certificate II · where it leadsSIT20421 Cookery
Certificate III · the tradeSIT30821 Commercial Cookery
Certificate II · care sector routeHLT23221 Health Support Services

What it covers

3Core Elements

0Elective Electives

A single unit of competency with no prerequisites and no AQF level. Skills must be demonstrated in an operational food preparation or service environment — an industry workplace or an industry-realistic simulated environment. Assessment requires access to food handler gloves, storage and display receptacles, serving utensils, changing facilities, personal protective equipment, a designated hand washing sink with antiseptic liquid soap, single use towels and warm running water, a first aid kit, ready to eat food items and current plain English regulatory documents.

The three elements of the unit.

Element 1 Follow hygiene procedures and identify food hazards
Element 2 Report any personal health issues
Element 3 Prevent food contamination

For a full list of elective units, visit training.gov.au →

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as a food safety supervisor certificate?: No. This is the food handler unit — your own hygiene practice. Food safety supervisor requirements are set by state and local food authorities and generally need more, including SITXFSA006 and a supervisor skill set.
Do I need it outside hospitality?: Very likely. The register names aged care, hospitals, correctional centres, defence, schools, transport and in-flight catering alongside restaurants and bars.
Can I do it fully online?: No. The register requires demonstration in an operational food preparation or service environment, or an industry-realistic simulation with specified fixtures including a designated hand washing sink.
Does it expire?: The unit does not expire. Food businesses and local councils may require periodic refresher — check with your employer and your local food authority.
Is it included in cookery qualifications?: Yes. It is a core unit in the SIT cookery and hospitality qualifications, so anyone completing those already holds it.

Other registered providers

Filtered by where each provider is based, not where they can deliver.

NSW

TAFE NSWRTO 90003

Deliver and assess · NSW
QLD

TAFE QueenslandRTO 0275

Deliver and assess · National
WA

North Metropolitan TAFERTO 52786

Deliver and assess · WA
QLD

Halo Nation TrainingRTO 32485

Deliver and assess · QLD
QLD

National SkillsRTO 45438

Deliver and assess · QLD
QLD

Brighton PacificRTO 41138

Deliver and assess · QLD
WA

Skills Strategies InternationalRTO 2401

Deliver and assess · WA
VIC

The Management EdgeRTO 3927

Deliver and assess · National
QLD

Civil SafetyRTO 32381

Deliver and assess · QLD
QLD

AshtrailRTO 6139

Deliver and assess · QLD
NSW

Joblink PlusRTO 91434

Deliver and assess · National
TAS

Reach Community CollegeRTO 40747

Deliver and assess · TAS
Find more providers

12 of 1075 providers shown — search the register for the rest
training.gov.au →

Qualifications that require this unit

This unit is core in each of these, so completing it counts toward them.

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Use hygienic practices for food safety

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