Australia is renowned for its abundance of quality produce and its rich tradition of wine making. From the temptations of the NSW Hunter Valley to the delights of Western Australia’s Margaret River region, connoisseurs from across the country and, indeed, around the globe celebrate the growing success of our viticulture industry.

This was clearly demonstrated in late November 2004 with some 19,000 people descending on the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour for the biennial Wine Australia 2004 show. Visitors representing the general public including trade and media from around the world were treated to sampling the very best Australia has to offer with some 4,000 different wines showcased at the four-day event.

Sheralee Davies from the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia receives her TAFE PLUS Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate from OTEN teacher Buck Findlay at the Wine Australia 2004 Show

TAFE NSW supported the exhibitors at the event by helping them meet NSW laws relating to the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA). The TAFE PLUS RSA program is delivered as a 6-hour course or as a bridging program. In the months leading up to the showcase, TAFE NSW teachers travelled the country providing face-to-face training to some 640 people. Another 500 were trained through distance learning.

The laws in NSW pertaining to the Responsible Service of Alcohol require those involved in the sale, supply or service of alcohol in the State to hold a NSW approved certificate. This meant that the exhibitors at Wine Australia who would be selling or pouring taste testings for visitors had to be trained. Initially, many of the exhibitors were unaware of this requirement. With laws in each State varying, confusion and frustration were high. TAFE NSW worked closely with the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, Exhibition Organisers Pty Ltd and the NSW Department of Gaming and Racing to ensure the NSW requirements were met by all exhibitors prior to the show.

Both the full TAFE PLUS RSA program and the NSW bridging program (for those who have a certificate from their own State) were delivered, allowing the 475 exhibitors to gain the required certification with minimal fuss and to focus on preparing for the show.

By offering flexible learning methods, a high quality course and empathy toward the needs of this group, TAFE PLUS met the expectations of all concerned.

The Wine Australia Show will again be held in Sydney in 2006 and TAFE NSW looks forward to supporting the event once more.