The programs are designed to help employees recognise and respond to unacceptable behaviour
All hospitality staff and liquor licence holders in New South Wales will have to undertake mandatory sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training to improve workplace safety.
The NSW State Government has announced the update to the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training program, which is mandatory for anyone who sells, serves, or supplies alcohol in the state.
Certification is valid for five years and must be renewed by individuals to remain current.
Under the updated RSA programme, hospitality staff will receive training on how to identify and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence in licensed venues.
"The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts," said NSW Music and the Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham in a statement.
According to the NSW State Government, the updated training programme also includes:
"These changes will give the more than 100,000 workers who complete a course each year the skills and confidence to recognise and respond to unacceptable behaviour and are a major step towards making venues safer for everyone," said Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris in a statement.
The training programme update comes in the wake of widespread cases of sexual violence in the nightlife setting, according to Full Stop Australia, which provides sexual violence response and recovery services.
"Ensuring hospitality staff are equipped to respond sensitively and safely to disclosures of sexual violence is a positive step towards improving outcomes for victim-survivors," said Full Stop CEO Karen Bevan in a statement.
"Nights out should be fun and safe for everyone. This change is a step in the right direction to ensure the safety of all workers and patrons in NSW venues."
Meanwhile, licensee training has also been updated to reference workplace safety requirements for the prevention of sexual harassment.
The update reflects employers' new obligations under the Respect@Work legislation, which requires businesses to take proactive steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment.
"Sexual violence and harassment have no place in any workplace or community," said Work, Health, and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis. "SafeWork NSW is committed to educating employers, enforcing Work Health and Safety laws, and supporting respectful, safe workplaces across the state."
