By Ian Neubauer
An education centre in Queensland has introduced an online version of the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course in response to client and industry needs.
An RSA certificate is mandatory for any job involving the service of alcohol to the public in most states in Australia. The certificate is awarded on the successful completion of a six-hour course, usually taught on campus during regular working hours.
“We understand hospitality staff do not work from nine to five, Monday to Friday, so we asked the industry which would be the best way to run the course,” Southbank Institute of Technology director Craig Sherrin said. “Businesses will no longer have staff scheduling difficulties, nor will they have to wait until there are enough people to fill a class before it can be scheduled. The online course will also minimise labour costs incurred when releasing staff for training.”
Liquor Licensing Queensland has endorsed the online course and certification will be valid for three years from the date competency is achieved. It has not been endorsed by liquor authorities in any other state.
A spokesperson for the institute said the course has attracted wide interest since its launch on January 10. “We have had interest from places far away as Nepal,” the spokesperson said.
The online RSA course costs $85. To learn more about the course, click here.