Australian Institute of Food Safety

Overview

The Australian Institute of Food Safety (AIFS) is one of Australia’s largest and most established food safety training providers. Trading as foodsafety.com.au, AIFS operates under RTO registration number 41127 and has been delivering food safety training to the hospitality, retail, and community services industries for over a decade.

AIFS offers nationally accredited training covering SITXFSA005 (Use hygienic practices for food safety) and SITXFSA006 (Participate in safe food handling practices) — the two units of competency required for a nationally recognised Food Safety Supervisor certificate in all Australian states and territories. Their courses are fully online and self-paced, with no workplace assessment required.

Course details

The AIFS FSS course is structured as an online, self-paced program designed to be completed in a single session or spread across multiple sittings within the access period.

Units awarded:

• SITXFSA005 — Use hygienic practices for food safety
• SITXFSA006 — Participate in safe food handling practices

What the course covers:

• Personal hygiene practices and their role in food safety
• Temperature control for potentially hazardous food
• Cross-contamination prevention
• Cleaning and sanitising food contact surfaces
• Food safety legislation and the role of the FSS
• Hazard identification and corrective action
• Record keeping requirements under Standard 3.2.2A

The course includes a knowledge assessment component. On successful completion, students receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. NSW students also receive the NSW Government FSS certificate.

Pricing

The NSW price of $229.95 includes the approximately $30 NSW Government certificate fee, which is collected by the RTO and remitted to the NSW Food Authority. This means NSW students pay a single bundled fee with no additional charges.

Prices were verified from the AIFS website in April 2026. Pricing may change — confirm current prices at foodsafety.com.au before enrolling.

Delivery and assessment

AIFS courses are delivered entirely online. There is no requirement to attend in person or complete a workplace assessment with an observer.

• Format: Online learning modules with embedded knowledge checks
• Duration: Approximately 6–8 hours of study
• Access period: 12 months from enrolment (students can pause and resume)
• Device requirements: Any modern browser; no specialist software required
• Assessment: Online knowledge assessment at the end of each unit

Accreditation and state acceptance

AIFS is registered on the ASQA National Register under RTO number 41127. The SITXFSA005 and SITXFSA006 units are within their scope of registration, which means the Statements of Attainment they issue are nationally recognised.

NSW Food Authority approved: Yes. AIFS is listed on the NSW Food Authority’s approved RTO list, which means they can issue the NSW Government FSS certificate to eligible students. This is a mandatory requirement for any food business in NSW — not all RTOs are approved, so this is a significant criterion for NSW-based students.

The AIFS certificate is accepted in all 8 states and territories: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, and NT.

Industry sectors covered

The AIFS FSS course covers all five industry sectors recognised under Standard 3.2.2A:

• Hospitality — restaurants, cafes, catering, pubs, clubs
• Retail — food retail, supermarkets, delis, butchers
• Health and community services — aged care, hospitals, disability services, schools
• Food processing — manufacturing, processing facilities
• Transport and distribution — food logistics and storage

For retail businesses seeking the SIRRFSA001 pathway specifically, AIFS may offer a separate retail-focused module. Check their website for current offerings.

Certificate issuance

After successfully completing both units and the final assessment, AIFS issues:

1. Statement of Attainment — for SITXFSA005 and SITXFSA006, issued by AIFS as a registered RTO. This is the nationally recognised qualification.
2. NSW Government FSS certificate (NSW students only) — issued by AIFS on behalf of the NSW Food Authority. This is the document you present to council inspectors in NSW. It is typically the blue and orange certificate unique to NSW.

AIFS states a standard issuance time of 1–2 business days after assessment completion. Students who need a certificate urgently should contact AIFS directly.

Who this course suits

NSW food business operators — AIFS is one of the most established NSW Food Authority approved providers. The bundled $229.95 price (including the government certificate) makes NSW pricing straightforward, with no separate fee to calculate.

Multi-state operators — The certificate is accepted in all states and territories, making it suitable for businesses with multiple locations or staff who may move between states.

Businesses certifying multiple staff — AIFS offers volume pricing for businesses enrolling multiple staff members. Contact their team directly for group rates.

Those who prefer an established provider — AIFS has a long track record in Australian food safety training and maintains extensive resources on state-specific requirements through their website and help centre.

Things to consider

• Online only. AIFS does not offer blended or face-to-face delivery. If your council has specific requirements around in-person or workplace assessment, verify that online-only completion is acceptable.
• No pay-on-pass. Payment is required upfront, before you begin the course. If you do not pass the assessment on the first attempt, most RTOs including AIFS allow re-attempts — confirm their resit policy before enrolling.
• NSW Food Regulation 2025 — single RTO rule. From 1 September 2025, NSW students must complete both SITXFSA005 and SITXFSA006 with the same RTO. AIFS offers both units, so this requirement is satisfied when enrolling with them for the full course.

Data last verified: April 2026. Always confirm current pricing and availability at foodsafety.com.au before enrolling.