Freshcare is a purpose-driven, industry benefit organisation. Program and participant fees are designed to contribute to the day-to-day operational costs and ongoing development of Freshcare programs.

As a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), Freshcare does not receive government or levy funding. More than 95 per cent of our revenue is generated through participant fees.

These fees enable us to maintain a small, dedicated Australian-based team who are here to directly support you on your certification journey.

To provide transparency on how participant fees support the delivery of Freshcare certification programs, resources, and tools, the accompanying graphic outlines a breakdown of our income sources, operational costs, and participation across each standard – with further details explained below.

Where Do Your Fees Go?

Your participant fees play a vital role in sustaining and advancing Freshcare’s purpose as an industry-led, not-for-profit organisation. Every dollar directly supports the programs, services, and initiatives that uphold certification integrity and deliver value to participants.

  • Participant Support (25%)

    A quarter of your fees directly fund the services that enable us to support participants across all Freshcare Standards. This includes:

    • Service desk and administrative support
    • Access to the Employee Assistance Program (via TELUS Health)
    • Database and IT management
    • Website and communications
    • Accounts receivable
    • Finance and HR functions
  • Advocacy & Participant Recognition (20%)

    We dedicate 20% of participant fees to recognition initiatives and advocacy for certified businesses. This supports:

    • Participation in industry working groups
    • Government and regulatory engagement
    • Market access and retailer recognition
    • Conference attendance and presentations
    • Annual reviews and participant case studies
  • Governance (20%)

    Strong governance ensures Freshcare’s integrity and accountability. 20% of fees support:

    • The Freshcare Board (eight Directors representing horticulture, wine, and food sectors)
    • Executive office and operational functions
    • Quarterly Board reporting
    • Finance, Risk, Audit and Compliance Committee
    • Financial audits and ACNC reporting
  • Maintaining Standards & Programs (10%)

    10% of participant fees are invested in the continuous improvement of Freshcare Standards and resources, including:

    • Maintenance and updates of Standards and supporting materials
    • Standards reviews and rule upgrades
    • Auditor tools and resources
    • Annual auditor calibration
  • Benchmarking & Accreditation (10%)

    Benchmarking and accreditation maintain Freshcare’s credibility and global recognition. 10% of fees support:

    • Certification Body management
    • Benchmarking and accreditation for each Standard, including:
      • Food Safety & Quality – GFSI Benchmarking
      • Supply Chain – GFSI Benchmarking
      • Environmental – Reef Assured (Reef Protection Regulations – Bananas)
      • Wine Industry Sustainability Standards – Systembolaget benchmarking
    • GFSI benchmarking and certification fees
  • Product Development & Innovation (10%)

    Another 10% is invested in research, development, and innovation to evolve Freshcare’s programs and digital tools. This includes:

    • Audit model enhancements (including Two-Part and Wine Industry models)
    • Data security, IT, and API integrations
    • Add-on module initiatives
  • Freshcare Committees (5%)

    5% of participant fees support Freshcare-led committees that drive collaboration and innovation:

    • Technical Steering Committee (Standards)
    • Industry Collaboration Committee (Strategic)
    • Information Technology Committee (Innovation)

Freshcare Fees and Payment Information

Freshcare fees are structured to ensure transparency and support the ongoing delivery and improvement of our certification programs.

When Fees Apply

Freshcare fees are payable:

  • Upon registration as a new business with Freshcare
  • When a business seeks certification to a Freshcare Standard
  • When a business undertakes re-certification

Additional fees may apply only for specific services or orders, such as:

  • Training manual purchases
  • Access to logo use files
  • Reissuing certificates
  • Certification deferral requests

Freshcare Business Registration Fee

The Business Registration Fee applies to all new businesses joining Freshcare for certification. A fee of $256 (ex GST) is payable online upon completion of the Freshcare Sign-Up process.

Freshcare Participation Fee

The Participation Fee is collected by Certification Bodies on behalf of Freshcare Ltd. Participation Fees are charged per program at the time of audit and will appear as a separate line item on your Certification Body’s invoice.

Once your audit is complete, the Certification Body remits the Freshcare Participation Fee to Freshcare Ltd.

Participation Fees are payable once per audit cycle, depending on your certification program:

Audit Frequency Applicable Programs
Annually Food Safety & Quality (FSQ)
Supply Chain (SCS)
Environmental (ENV)
Triennually Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT)
Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Winery (AWISSP-WIN)

Participation Fee Schedule – Effective 1 July 2025

From 1 July 2025, following the annual price index review, a 2.5% increase was applied across all Freshcare revenue lines. The updated pricing structure and schedule of fees for each program are outlined in the table below.

Freshcare Program Fee Description Fee (Excluding GST)
Food Safety and Quality – On Farm (FSQ) Freshcare Participation Fee (FSQ) $543.00
Supply Chain Standard (SCS) Freshcare Participation Fee (SCS) $717.00
Environmental (ENV) Freshcare Participation Fee (ENV) $297.00
Sustainability Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT) Freshcare Participation Fee (VIT) $522.00
Sustainability Winery (AWISSP-WIN) Freshcare Participation Fee (WIN) $717.00

For more information on the Freshcare Participation Fee Schedule Click Here.

Financial Hardship Support

At Freshcare, we understand that from time to time, businesses may face unexpected challenges that place financial strain on their operations. As a registered charity, Freshcare is committed to supporting our participants during these times through our Financial Hardship Support mechanism.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to us. We will work with you to understand your situation and explore available options to help you maintain certification and continue participation in Freshcare programs.

Your wellbeing and ability to meet compliance requirements are important to us. All enquiries are treated confidentially and with respect.

Support Available

Assistance may be available for the following areas and must relate to upcoming or recently completed activities:

  • Annual Participation Fee(s)
  • Freshcare Training Fee(s)

Funding is limited and applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis by an appointed review panel.
If you need assistance or wish to apply, please contact us on (02) 8039 9999 or via email at [email protected].

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Contact the Freshcare team on 02 8039 9999 or [email protected]

 

This page was last updated on 18 November 2025.