How To Get An Rsa In Different Australian States And Territories

The Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate is something that everybody working within the sale or service of alcohol throughout Australia is required to have. Its more than a ticket to work behind a bar, it acts to encourage and provide necessary knowledge to see safe drinking habits throughout the country.

Different states and territories have varied approaches to the RSA training. In some states the nationally recognised Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol unit of competency is required as the RSA certification.

While in South Australia, for example, approved managers and supervisors of licensed venues only are required to apply through their venue of employment to become an approved responsible person.

However, in every other Australian state and territory its mandatory now for every person selling or serving alcohol to have an RSA certificate. Some states, New South Wales and Tasmania, require the RSA training to happen within their borders. While others, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, will accept the unit of competency as the RSA certification, completed within any Australian state or territory.

Victoria requires the unit of competency and an online Victorian-specific refresher course, while Queensland will accept the unit of competency so long as the states liquor authority the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing (OLGR), has approved the RSA training provider.
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are able to deliver the RSA training and subsequent certificate. From state to state requirements vary, but some authority bodies do specify that they need to approve an RTO before its accredited to deliver the RSA training relevant to that region. Queensland, for example, has this requirement, as does New South Wales and Tasmania.

On top of being authorised in individual states and territories, where applicable, RTOs are accredited to provide the nationally recognised Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol unit of competency. A training organisation must undergo strict auditing and accreditation checks before being sanctioned as an RTO.

RTOs deliver RSA training online or in person. The RSA training and subsequent certificate leave staff with knowledge of:

How to responsibly prepare alcoholic drinks,
How to responsibly serve alcoholic drinks,
When its appropriate to refuse someone service,
How to assist customers to drink within reasonable limits and
How to assist customers who are adversely affected by their consumption of alcohol.

Staff and licensees face substantial fines nation-wide for not complying with RSA
requirements. In most cases licensees or approved managers are required to keep a checklist of staff and their RSA certification, including the date of training and its expiry, on the premises.

RSA certificates expire within three years of being obtained. Upon which, the RSA holder is required to re-do the training. New staff have one month after their first day to get their RSA certification.