COVID-19 Awareness Training supports sector to reopen
Nearly 3,500 business owners and employees from South Australian tourism and hospitality businesses now have the know-how required to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 and help give customers a “COVID clean” confidence.
Developed by the South Australian Tourism Commission, in partnership with South Australian-owned business Health Safety Environment Australia (HSE Australia), the free 30-minute online COVID-19 Awareness Training has proven popular among the industry - including the iconic National Wine Centre with all staff having completed the course ahead of the venue opening its doors today for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions.
SATC chief executive Rodney Harrex said the COVID-19 Awareness Training was designed to assist businesses to reopen with confidence as the state works to reboot its $8.1 Billion visitor economy.
“We heard from operators and tourism representatives across the state who were anxious about reopening and who wanted something to help them welcome back customers as restrictions were eased,” said Mr Harrex.
“Only three weeks after launching and the response has been fantastic with nearly 3,500 tourism and hospitality workers completing the free COVID-19 Awareness Training - including staff from Adelaide city's iconic National Wine Centre.”
“It’s not only helped them reopen in the knowledge they’re doing all they can to prevent and control COVID-19 infection, but they’re also able to display the certificate in their premises to help welcome back customers as safety becomes higher in their decision making when choosing destinations to visit.”
The COVID-19 Awareness Training is not an accreditation course but a simple and quick way for South Australia’s hospitality and tourism workers to understand the basics they need to know as they adapt to a “COVID-safe” way of operating and servicing customers.
National Wine Centre general manager Jason Bird said the training has been key to the Centre's reopening.
"The SATC’s COVID-19 Awareness Training is an integral part of getting each of our team members back to work, and being able to reopen the National Wine Centre," he said.
"The online delivery makes it much easier for the team to access, and the material gives them a good understanding of their responsibilities in providing a safe tourism experience.’
Adelaide's National Wine Centre will open its wine bar, tasting experiences, tours, as well as host sit-down and cocktail functions. From Monday, it will be able to accommodate up to 590 people and its UnWined Friday night drinks will return next month.
HSE Australia managing director Rodney Fox said he was delighted his local South Australian business could work with the SATC to deliver the program for the state's tourism and hospitality sector.
"Access to the free course is a very significant step for operators as they reopen, helping business owners and their staff to ramp up operations and ready themselves as more customers can return," he said.
"The COVID-19 Awareness Training covers prevention measures, cleaning requirements and what steps we all need to take. It's developed for South Australians by South Australians, and it's great to see all of the National Wine Centre staff with their course completion certificates as they reopen to customers for the first time since the pandemic."
All South Australian tourism and hospitality businesses are encouraged to use the course as a quick way to bring themselves and their staff up to speed, and step through the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19.
The South Australian COVID-19 Awareness Training Course can also give an assurance to customers that the appropriate cleaning measures are in place, as safety becomes a higher priority in consumer decision-making about where to go and what to do.
Upon successful completion of the course all participants will receive a certificate which they can print for display in the business, provide to an employer, and/or use in marketing and promotional material. They can also request a window decal to display in the front window of their business.