Sexual harassment and violence prevention training are now mandatory for all hospitality staff and liquor licence holders.
As part of a new NSW Government reform, the specialised updates will be added to the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) program in a bid to improve punter safety.
It’ll also enable staff to identify and respond to sexual harassment and violence in licensed venues.
Mandatory RSA training is required for anyone who sells, serves or supplies alcohol in NSW.
However, the latest changes will teach staff how alcohol can affect a person’s ability to consent, and the role coercion can play, as well as the laws surrounding predatory crimes.
It reinforces the notion alcohol is not the root cause of sexual violence and is often used to excuse perpetrators and shift blame onto victims.
Staff will be trained in how to respond when patrons disclose sexual harassment, violence or suspected drink spiking, and how to connect them with the appropriate support services.
The course material was developed by Liquor & Gaming NSW in partnership with Good Night Out, an international campaigning organisation focused on gender-based violence prevention in night-time economies.
Grace Tose, co-owner of Bernie’s Bar in Newcastle, said it was a major step forward for the local nightlife.
“We’ve had a lot of complications post-COVID,” she explained.
“There was a period, just after the pandemic, where people didn’t go out for two-to-three years.
“Now, we’re getting an influx of fresh 18-years-olds entering the premises.
“So, the past year we have been trying to educate and sort of shape that culture around creating safe spaces.”
While the new legislation is currently being rolled out for new RSA trainees, Ms Tose said her venue had already taken things into their own hands.
“At the moment, most of our staff, including myself, have gone through private training to make sure we’re already across all of this sort of stuff,” she added.
“But, now having that out in the community means that these other places are going to be safe as well, because people can take that training out into private homes and dwellings where it is a large concern.”
The update builds on RSA training handbook revision made in 2024, which included new guidance on drink spiking, and is part of a broader strategy from the state government to improve both patron and workplace safety in the hospitality industry.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has fought for changes to be made for some time, sponsoring a petition in 2023 for the movement which was signed by more than 20,000 people.
“We cannot have a truly vibrant nightlife without addressing violent behaviours head-on,” he said.
“This critical amendment, alongside the progressive steps of lifting lockout laws and extending small bar hours, sends a clear message: this government is dedicated to building a Newcastle nightlife that is not just lively, but also proactively safe and inclusive.”
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