Liquor and Gaming NSW has introduced two new higher level training courses for licensees and approved managers, to enhance liquor industry training standards across the state.
The new courses will be available from 1 November and will become mandatory from 1 April 2019.
In a statement about the training Liquor and Gaming said: “The new Tiered Industry Training Framework recognises that managing a hotel, bar or club is an important job with a lot of responsibility.
“Building on existing Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training, the new framework ensures frontline staff, licensees and approved managers are trained at a level relevant to their roles.
“The new courses are designed to support operators of licensed premises in meeting their obligations under NSW liquor laws, while providing safe, vibrant and welcoming environments for patrons.”
The new courses consist of licensee training, which is for most licensees, approved managers and club secretaries and also advanced licensee training, which is an additional course for operators of licensed venues in higher risk environments, such as those trading after midnight.
Liquor and Gaming said that any new licensees who apply for a licence from 1 September 2018 and need to undertake the training will initially have until 1 April 2019 to complete it, while new licensees who apply for a licence from 1 April 2019 will be required to complete the training before making an application.
Then from 1 April 2019, existing licensees will be required to complete the training as their current NSW competency card expires over a five year transition period.
The regulator also said that more information will be available when the new courses are rolled out from next month.