All hospitality and tourism workers in Western Australia (WA) will be required to complete mandatory hygiene training before heading back to work, under a new government initiative.

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) WA has partnered with the WA Government to deliver the AHA Hospitality & Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Course.

All hospitality staff will need to successfully complete the course before their employer is able to re-open, when restrictions ease.

AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the new online training will equip hospitality staff and management with a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 hygiene requirements and social distancing measures.

“This is the first hospitality and tourism specific COVID-19 hygiene course of its type in Australia and will put WA in a frontline position for when venues re-open,” he said.

“To ensure hospitality businesses are prepared to re-open, it is important that all staff have the necessary training and knowledge to minimise the risk for staff and customers contracting COVID-19.”

The AHA Hospitality & Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Course will cover the following modules:

• Understanding COVID-19 and venue restrictions
• Reporting personal health issues
• Maintaining personal and work environment hygiene practices, specific to COVID-19
• Reducing cross contamination through procedures, specific to COVID-19
• Effective cleaning and sanitising practices, specific to COVID-19

All WA staff will be required to complete the basic training, while a second, more detailed Hygiene Officer course will be required for managers and supervisors.

When re-opening occurs, each venue must have one Hygiene Officer on duty at all times to ensure venue compliance.

Woods said venues must recognise the important role they play in reducing the spread of the virus both now and upon re-opening.

“WA has been remarkably successful in containing COVID-19 and hospitality venues will have an important role to play in continuing this success and getting back on the road to recovery – this training course will help ensure this occurs,” he said.

The AHA Hospitality & Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Course is available online.

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