Hospitality workers in NSW are required by law to hold a current RSA (Responsible Services of Alcohol) competency card when working at pubs, clubs, casinos, restaurants, and other venues that serve alcohol. And in some cases, where gambling Is present, they need to have completed RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling) training as well.
In today’s blog, we’ll quickly unpack RSA and RCG for hospitality staff: what they are when you need them, and how to make sure you do the right course. Let’s start by taking a look at why people who sell and serve alcohol in NSW need an RSA competency card.
Alcohol is a substance with an enormous social cost to Australians. It is estimated that each year the misuse of alcohol costs the Australian community more than $14.35 billion, with the biggest impacts experienced by business and productivity, traffic accidents, and the criminal justice system.
One of the ways that state governments around Australia reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption is to ensure that it is sold and served by people who have been properly trained.
Because alcohol affects people in different ways, servers need to be able to help their customers drink within appropriate limits and recognise if they are becoming intoxicated.
The government in NSW has strict criteria for the delivery and contents of responsible service of alcohol courses. And as a student you can expect to learn how to:
NEED AN RSA COMPETENCY CARD: why not download our RSA course brochure before enrolling.
RCG training in NSW is mandatory for people who work at casinos and licensed venues that allow patrons to gamble. Legalised gambling in NSW can range from Club Keno, poker machines, TAB, and sports betting.
Like alcohol, gambling addiction and problem behavior can have enormous costs to a person’s wellbeing and mental health, not to mention their family and the wider community.
Accordingly, RCG training will teach you how to:
One of the most important things to remember when enrolling in an RSA or RCG course is to make sure you are doing the right course for your location. Every state and territory in Australia has different laws and government agencies that regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol, as well as gambling activities. So, as you can imagine, each state has different training requirements too.
Some important things to remember are:
Hospitality can be a transient industry, and bar stewards and wait staff often work at multiple venues. Having both RSA and RCG can certainly increase your employability, especially if the venue where you work has poker machines or provides gambling services (Keno, TAB).
Your RSA and RCG competency card will be recognised by all licensed venues in NSW including bottleshops, clubs, pubs, casinos, and restaurants — even mobile catering, events, and festivals that provide alcohol. Having a current RSA and RCG card can be especially handy if a new employer or agency needs you to ‘start tonight’.
Vigil Training is a Liquor & Gaming NSW-approved RSA and RCG training provider, and our courses are delivered face-to-face. This means you’ll be in a room with qualified trainers and other students so you can practice your new skills in a range of simulated role-play situations. For more information check out our detailed RSA & RCG course pages with full list of upcoming course dates.
