NSW LICENSEE TRAINING ONLINE COURSE

THE COURSE IS BROKEN DOWN INTO FIVE SECTIONS.

Section 1: Overview of liquor regulation in NSW

Section 2: Managing your liquor licence

Section 3: Your responsibilities to manage alcohol-related harms

Section 4: Best practice strategies to prevent alcohol-related harms

Section 5: Compliance and enforcement

Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) 

Successful completion of the Licensee Training will result in the automatic renewal of a current RSA endorsement on the recognised competency card.

If your RSA competency does expire, you have 28 days from the date of expiry to complete this Licensee course which will result in an automatic renewal of your RSA endorsement. If you have not completed this Licensee course prior to the 28 day grace period expiring, you will be required to complete the free RSA refresher course though NSW Liquor and Gaming. 

Once you have completed your refresher course, please email through a copy of your RSA refresher interim certificate to support@cleartowork.com.au.

If you already hold an RSA certificate from a state other than NSW – good news! You may only be required to complete the NSW RSA Bridging course offered by Liquor & Gaming NSW. Click here to learn more.

Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) 

Completing the Licensee Training will renew your RSA and any Privacy and/or High Risk Venue Management endorsements held, however it does not automatically renew your RCG competency. To retain your RCG competency, you must first complete the online refresher training, or choose to surrender it before you enrol to complete Licensee Training.

a) If you wish to renew a current RCG endorsement on the recognised competency card complete the renewal course Licence Renewal (nsw.gov.au).

OR

b) If you do not wish to renew a current RCG endorsement must surrender this endorsement by completing the RCG Declaration Form.

More information

Visit Liquor & Gaming NSW website for more information on completing licensee training or contact them on competency.card@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au or 1300 024 720.

You will be assessed using:

• Multiple-choice questions
• Written questions and project
• 15-minute live assessment via online video conferencing.

Please read this information carefully! There are no refunds if you enrol in this course and cannot complete the live assessment. The online video assessment shall be booked after competently completing the written questions.

Multiple-Choice Questions

The course is broken into manageable sections designed to improve your learning. At the end of each section is a multiple-choice quiz. You are required to get all the questions in a section before moving to the next section.

Written Questions

Short answer responses are drawn from all parts of the course. They require a few sentences or brief dot points. House Policy – outline 5 policies you would include in the house policy of your business.

Complete an incident log and incident report using the template and scenarios provided.

Your written assessment will be marked the next business day after submission.

Live Assessment

Please read this information carefully! There are NO refunds if you enrol in this course and cannot complete the live assessment.

This is a 15-minute live assessment with a trainer completed over the internet using your webcam. There is no software to download.

How to Book an Appointment

When you are marked competent in your written questions, you can log into your course and use the online scheduler to book an appointment. You will receive a link.

You will be provided with three (3) attempts to successfully complete each of your assessment components. If you do not pass your assessment on your third attempt, you can purchase an additional three attempts to complete your final assessment. The cost to purchase an additional three attempts is $12.

Please also know that trainers are available at any time throughout your course to provide assistance should you need additional guidance and support. 

It is your responsibility to note the date and time of any scheduled meeting.  CTW will not provide refunds to learners who reschedule or cancel these meetings on multiple occasions. 

Receive Interim Certificate

If your live assessment is marked competent during business hours, you will receive your Interim Certificate by close of business that day.

If your live assessment is marked Competent outside of business hours, you will receive your Interim Certificate by close of business the NEXT business day.

For more information, see the tab “How to Book an Appointment”

Check the requirements tab for equipment needed.

Watch the video below. Or watch it on youtube – click here.

Watch the video below. Or watch it in youtube – click here.

To complete this course you need to:

NSW RSA competency card or NSW RSA interim certificate issued by a Liquor & Gaming NSW

A unique email address not previously used by another student.

A driver’s licence, passport, another form of photo-identity, such as an 18+ card or a student card that includes DOB and photo.

Unique student identifier (USI) – a federal government requirement. You can get a USI as part of your registration. Click here to visit the USI website.

Technology Required

This course requires a live video interview with your trainer over the internet. You will need:

• high speed, reliable internet capable of a video call
• current internet browser, preferably Chrome
• Device – computer/laptop/tablet/smartphone with webcam

There are NO refunds if you enrol in this course and cannot meet the technical requirements.

Use of interpreters is not permitted.

Completing the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course is a prerequisite to completing the Licensee Training (LT). To gain an RSA competency to work in NSW, students must complete the NSW RSA and the National RSA – SITHFAB021 Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol (or equivalent) Unit of Competency (UoC) and meet the minimum Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) requirements for the National RSA. 

L&GNSW requirement for learners to complete the Licensee Training assessments in English without an interpreter is based on the minimum LLN skills for the prerequisite RSA and the higher-level responsibility that licensees hold to ensure they have the English language skills to understand and comply with complex legislation pertaining to their liquor licence.

If you enrol into this course and are not able to complete it without an interpreter, please note that no refunds can be provided. 

You have been granted or are applying for the right to hold a liquor licence in NSW. As a licensee, approved manager or club secretary, you have significant responsibilities. This course is designed to help you understand and carry out your legal responsibilities, so you can reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms arising from your business activities.

While alcohol is widely consumed responsibly and safely, there are significant harmful effects from alcohol abuse and misuse, with wide-ranging impacts on individuals and our society as a whole. It is important to ensure you are doing what you can to operate a safe and responsible business.

If you don’t exercise your legal responsibilities, you can be found to be non-compliant. Noncompliance with the liquor laws can result in the suspension or cancellation of your licence and you can be banned from holding a liquor licence or having a financial interest in a licence for a significant period of time.

We want to make sure you have every chance to operate a successful business.

On completion of this course, you should be able to manage the day to day requirements for a compliant licensed venue to the benefit of your staff, customers and the wider community. Specifically, this course will enable you to:

• Understand the relevant liquor legislation and regulations that will impact you as a licensee
• Know your responsibilities in managing your NSW liquor licence
• Understand your responsibilities as a licensee to manage alcohol-related harms in your business
• Implement best practice strategies for your business to improve operations
• Understand the consequences of non-compliance and what that means for you as a licensee

You are required to meet complex legislative requirements in relation to the sale, service and supply of liquor in your business. While your RSA course will have provided you with a basic understanding of this, your legislative responsibilities as a licensee go far beyond that, highlighting the need for further training.

Additionally, if you work in a business that operates in potentially higher risk environments such as those trading after midnight, you carry added responsibilities that require further tailored training.

The NSW government committed to the introduction of a tiered industry training framework to strengthen and enhance liquor industry training standards by building on the existing RSA training. Liquor & Gaming NSW has worked closely with industry peak bodies, NSW Police and select registered training organisations (including us)  to design this new training framework to ensure it meets your training needs.

The Liquor Regulation 2018 introduced the tiered industry training framework which includes two new levels of licensee training that are designed to support you in meeting your compliance obligations and implementing strategies to improve your business operations while providing safe and vibrant environments for your customers. These are:

• Licensee training, which is designed for licensees, approved managers and club secretaries, and
• Advanced Licensee training, which is an additional course for licensees, approved managers and club secretaries operating businesses in higher risk environments.

Who is required to complete Licensee training?

The Liquor Regulation 2018 requires all licence types classified as Tier 1 to complete Licensee training.

• Tier 1 licences include:
  • hotels, packaged liquor, clubs, small bars and on-premises licences; and
  • licensee or business subject to a regulatory scheme or nominated by Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (the Authority).

In addition, licence types classified as Tier 2 must also complete the Advanced Licensee training.

• Tier 2 licences include:
  • those authorised to trade after midnight on a regular basis or otherwise have extended late-night trading hours authorisation on a regular basis;
  • certain on-premises business types, such as nightclubs (adult relaxation entertainment) and karaoke bars, and
  • licensee or business subject to a regulatory scheme or nominated by Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (the Authority). 

Tier 1 licences

Tier 1 licences include:

1. Hotel licences: enables alcohol to be sold to the public for consumption on and off the premises. Subject to separate approval, it also enables gaming machines to be operated. A hotel licence operates at all times under the primary purpose of selling alcohol to the public.

2. General bar licences: a limited type of hotel licence known as a general bar licence is also available that allows alcohol to be sold for consumption on the premises, but does not allow takeaway sales or gaming machines to be operated.

3. Club licences: allows registered clubs to sell alcohol to their members and guests for consumption on and off the premises (venue). Although a registered club may contain a ’nightclub’, a standalone nightclub is a separate licence and should not be confused.

Gaming machines may also be operated, subject to separate approval. Types of businesses that use this licence include:

• RSL and services clubs
• Bowling clubs
• Leagues clubs
• Golf clubs

4. Small bar licences: allows the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises (venue) but does not allow gaming machines or takeaway alcohol. This liquor licence allows for a maximum of 100 patrons (over the age of 18) in your venue during trading hours.

5. Packaged liquor licences: allows alcohol to be sold through a bottle shop, home delivery, mail order or the internet for consumption off the premises (venue). You may also conduct tastings at your venue, with or without charge. types of businesses that use this licence include:
   • Bottle shops and liquor stores
   • General stores selling packaged liquor, and
   • Online shops with home delivery alcohol sales.

6. Producer/wholesaler licences: endorsed with a drink-on-premises authorisation

7. On-premises licences: allows the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises (venue) when another product or service (such as food or entertainment) is sold, supplied or provided to customers. In most circumstances, an on-premises licence does not permit takeaway alcohol sales. Alcohol sold under this licence must be consumed on the licensed premises that relate to any of the following:
   • Airports
   • Adult relaxation entertainment venues
   • Karaoke bars
   • Public entertainment venues (other than a cinema)
   • Restaurants or cafés
   • Tertiary institutions

Other on-premises licences likely to be required to undertake this training include:

• Caterers
• Food and beverage outlets
• Food halls
• Public arenas
• Sporting facilities

8. Any licensee or business that is subject to a regulatory scheme or who has been nominated by Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (the Authority).

Tier 2 licences

Tier 2 licences include:

1. Businesses with any of the following licences that are authorised to trade after midnight or authorised to have extended late-night trading hours on a regular basis:  hotel licences

• General bar licences
• Club licences
• Producer/wholesaler licences endorsed with a drink on-premises authorisation
• On-premises licences that relate to any of the following:
  • Public entertainment venues (other than a cinema)
  • Restaurants or cafés (those with a primary service authorisation)
  • Tertiary institutions
  • Vessels
  • Caterers

Note for the following:

• Small bar licence – with extended trading authorisation that authorises the sale or supply of liquor on a regular basis between 2.00am and 5.00am.

2. Certain business types irrespective of whether they operate after midnight:
   • Nightclubs (adult relaxation entertainment): whose primary purpose is to provide entertainment in a potentially higher risk environment due to the type and style of entertainment offered and the extended trading hours that are available, and
   • Karaoke bars: whose primary purpose is to provide entertainment, often trade past midnight and see peak trade after midnight.

3. Any licensee or venue subject to a regulatory scheme may be directed by Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (the Authority).

4. Any licensee directed by Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Authority.

For more information, click here.

You may have heard there is now a Licensee Training refresher course… the rumours are true! 

If you have an existing Licensee Training competency that has not yet expired, you may be eligible to complete the refresher course (instead of completing the full Licensee Training course). 

Completion of this course is mandatory to retain endorsements on the competency card and will renew them for a further 5 years.

Click here to learn more!