When you decide to work in Australia, some jobs may require a specific certificate / training such as in hospitality, construction, child caring, etc. Designed to deliver workplace-specific skills and knowledge, those trainings attest your abilities and can make a real difference in you securing a job. Some are also compulsory to start the job (eg. RSA, White Card)! Indeed, they show how motivated and ready you are to start working.
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What is a certificate or ticket?
A certificate or sometimes called “ticket” is a diploma you receive after going through a training. It is a requirement in some work fields such as hospitality or construction. There are many different certificates existing in Australia depending of the area you work in.
They are usually compulsory. Sometimes you will be able to work for a few months before having to complete a certificate. However most of the time you will need to complete the course prior starting your new job.
Some certificate trainings can be done online whereas others will require you to attend a classroom. Here are specific trainings that are required for some industries and quite useful to find a job.
RSA certificate – Work in Hospitality
The RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) is essential in Hospitality. It shows that you are aware of the regulations concerning alcohol consumption in Australia. You are trained to learn to be responsible when serving alcohol to patrons in order to prevent alcohol damages.
⚠️ It is absolutely compulsory to work at any places where alcohol is sold.
How do I take the RSA course?
In all states and territories you can get you RSA online after an online test. Regulations are specific to each states, which means that you will need to obtain the RSA in the state you intend to work.
Online: the test lasts between 4 and 6 hours and the diploma is issued at the end of the day.
In class: the course lasts one day and the diploma is given to you in person at the end.
The course costs between $24 and $170 (depending on the state and the type of course (online or in class)).
Is the RSA valid nationwide?
There is no single RSA valid for the whole of Australia. The regulations are specific to each state. This means that you will need to obtain the RSA in the state where you want to work.
Find all the information you need about the RSA in Australia in our article Get your RSA in Australia
🍹 Get your RSA in Australia and receive Discounts!
Pay less for your RSA course (Responsible Service of Alcohol). With this certificate, you are allowed to work in all places where alcohol is served or sold.
RSG / RCG certificate – Work in gambling establishment
The RSG (Responsible Service of Gambling) for NSW or RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling) for the other states is compulsory to work in any pub in Australia or any gambling establishment. The aim of the course is to be teach you to detect gambling problems. You also get trained on the use of ‘pokies’ – slot and game machines which are very common in these establishments.
How can I obtain RSG training?
RSG training can be done online or in class. It lasts half a day and costs around $80. In Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory, you can take the RSG course after you’ve been hired.
Find all the information you need about the RSG/RCG in Australia in our article Get your RSG certificate in Australia.
Food handler Course
As of 2023, all employees who prepare, handle or serve food must undertake food safety training.
Activities related to food handling encompass the preparation, serving, packaging, display, and storage of food. This skill is utilized by individuals in various roles throughout their daily tasks in the workplace, including but not limited to cooks, chefs, caterers, kitchen hands, kitchen assistants, as well as bar and food service staff, and room attendants within the hospitality and retail sectors.
To get the food handler certificate, we recommend you do an online course with EOT. You can enjoy $15 off on this course thanks to our partnership.
What you learn during the course
- Food Standards, Laws and Local Government
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
- Personal Hygiene & Handwashing
- Receiving and storing Stock
- Preparing and Processing food, Danger Zone, Contamination and Hazardous Foods
- Serving and displaying Food
- Disposing of Food, Cleaning your Environment.
Once completed you will be issued with a Certificate of Completion. This certificate is valid for people working in the preparation or service of food nationwide in Australia.
Barista course
Australians absolutely love coffee and making it right is an art. Most coffee shops will ask you for previous experience before hiring you as a barista and some of them will require the Barista Ticket. The Barista Ticket is a few hours training course teaching you the use of a coffee machine from scratch. You will be learning how to make all the coffees available in a coffee shop, how to froth milk and how to clean a coffee machine, etc.
The Barista course is Australia wide. The price of the training varies a lot depending on the training provider but is often less than $100.
White Card – Work in construction industry
The White Card is compulsory to work in the construction industry. The aim of the training is to learn about safety at work. The course trains the future employee to identify hazards and to prevent and manage accidents at work.
How do I obtain the White Card?
You can obtain the White Card online or in a classroom. Once the test validated, you will be required to send some ID documents and your Statement of Attainment to the training company you got it from. Then, your White Card will be mailed to you in the following days. You will receive a certificate in PDF format at the end of the course. In class, the card will be given to you at the end of the day.
Is the White Card valid in all Australian states?
The white card is Australia wide. Once you got it, it can be used in any state of the country.
Find all the information you need about the White card in Australia in our article: Get your White Card in Australia.
👷♂️ Get discounts for your White Card course
Take advantage of special offers to obtain the white card and work in the construction industry.
Forklift licence
The forklift licence is a course to evaluate your ability to operate a forklift. There are two licences, LO and LF. The LO licence only allows you to operate an order picker/stock picker forklift. The LF licence allows you to operate any forklift with the exception of an order picker/stock picker forklift.
How do I obtain the Forklift Licence?
The duration of the course varies according to your experience of operating a forklift. The training takes place in a centre. The price of the course will depend of the provider but is usually more than $450. It also has to be renewed every 5 years.
Traffic Controller course
Being a traffic controller is not a difficult job and is well paid. Also, it’s a job that’s easily accessible to girls. However, to work on public roads you will need to pass a certification. You can choose to take the Traffic Controller Course. This course gives you the skills and practical knowledge needed to regulate traffic on the roads. If you want to start working in this sector and only want to stop-slow (without putting up signs or cones), then this is the course for you.
If you want to be qualified to do more on site and have the opportunity to work longer hours, then go for the TC and TMI Combo course – Traffic Controller and Traffic Management Implementation. This course provides the knowledge and skills needed to safely control traffic using a stop and slow stick. You will need good English to take this course.
Working at heights
Ladders, incomplete scaffolding, falling from the edge of a roof are the main causes of injury. These incidents mainly occur in construction, factories, transport, postal services, warehousing and agriculture. So it’s imperative that you take a course on working at height, whatever the height at which you work. It will be a real advantage to work in the construction industry.
This course teaches you how to comply with all health and safety procedures in the workplace. It explains the risks and how to avoid them, the safety rules and how to react in the event of danger. The training can be done face-to-face or online. It costs between $200 and $300, depending on the state.
Working with children checks
In Australia you need to get a working with children check done when you are willing to work in child related areas. Checks are different in each states:
- Queensland: Blue Card (you can check our article Get your Blue Card)
- New South Wales: Working with children check
- Northern Territory: Working with children clearance notice
- Western Australia: Working with children check
- Australia State Territory: Working with vulnerable people act 2011
- South Australia: Child Safety
- Tasmania: Working with children registration
- Victoria: Working with children check
The price as well as the processing time of the Working with children checks vary depending on the state you get it from.
Get Your First Aid Training in Australia
Completing a First Aid training course in Australia is a significant advantage if you want to maximize your professional opportunities:
- Increase your employability: Many popular jobs (hospitality, agriculture, childcare) require this certification. Plus, in Australia, many workplaces are legally required to have a certain percentage of their staff trained in First Aid to comply with workplace health and safety (WHS) regulations.
- Stand out from other candidates: First Aid skills demonstrate your professionalism and ability to handle emergencies.
- Access specialized roles: Certain sectors like childcare, sports, or tourism actively seek candidates trained in First Aid.
National First Aid Courses offers training for everyone: healthcare professionals, educators, parents, or anyone wanting to learn life-saving skills. Plus, you can get a $10 discount using the promo code AGB10OFF. Pay your course only $40 with our discount code!
National First Aid Courses is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 41072). Nationally accredited First Aid Courses with training locations across NSW and QLD. Courses start at $50 (without discount).
Which visa to work in Australia?
There are several visas that allow you to work legally in Australia.
If you come to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa (subclasses 417 & 462), you can work legally in any field. This visa is for people aged between 18 and 35 and is renewable up to 2 times (subject to conditions).
Another solution for working legally is the Student Visa (subclass 500). This visa allows you to work for up to 48 hours a fortnight.
The Partner Visa (subclasses 82, 801) if you are a couple with a permanent resident or an Australian citizen, also allows you to work in Australia.
Please note that a tourist visa (subclasses 600, 651 & 601) does not give you the right to work legally in Australia. You can, however, do voluntary work.
Updated on 19/11/24
