Chef

Baptist Care; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging up to $18,550 peryear

Job summary

BaptistCare Westhaven Community is seeking a Chef who will deliver high-quality meals for residents, ensuring wellbeing and daily enjoyment. You will lead kitchen operations, run weekend service, and collaborate with a supportive team in a calm, structured environment.

Ideal candidates bring aged care kitchen experience, leadership ability, and relevant certificates, with commitment to food safety and menu planning. This role offers meaningful work and a chance to make a genuine difference daily.

Qualifications

• Availability to work weekends (essential).
• Previous aged care kitchen experience (essential).
• Previous in-charge / leadership experience in a kitchen environment (essential).
• Mandatory Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (HLTFSE001, HLTFSE005, HLTFSE007).
• Food Handling and Hygiene Certificate.
• Commercial Cookery Certificate III / IV.
• Experience with menu planning, ordering and special diet preparation.
• Experience in catering within residential aged care facilities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present nutritious, well-balanced meals aligned with set menus.
• Support the delivery of specialised and therapeutic diets.
• Assist with meal service across dining areas.
• Maintain high standards of food safety and hygiene.
• Support stock control, ordering, and kitchen organisation.
• Contribute to special events and community activities.
• Work with Head Chef and wider team.
• Run the kitchen on weekends in an in-charge capacity.

Skills

Weekend availability

Aged care kitchen experience

Leadership / in-charge experience

Menu planning

Food safety knowledge

Cooking fundamentals

Team collaboration

Education

Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (HLTFSE001, HLTFSE005, HLTFSE007)

Food Handling and Hygiene Certificate

Commercial Cookery Certificate III/IV

Job description

Still working unpredictable hours, rushing through service, and feeling like your cooking is just another task?

At BaptistCare's Westhaven Community, cooking is something more meaningful.

Here, every meal is an opportunity to bring comfort, connection, and enjoyment to our residents. You'll be part of a kitchen where your work truly matters — where people know your name, appreciate what you create, and look forward to every meal.

If you're looking for a role that brings purpose back into your cooking, this could be the change you've been waiting for.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT

• No late nights or split shifts - enjoy a better work-life balance
• Salary packaging up to $18,550 per year - increase your take-home pay
• Be part of a supportive, values-driven team
• Build real connections with the people you cook for
• Work in a calm, structured kitchen environment

THE ROLE

As a Chef at Westhaven, you'll play a key role in delivering high-quality meals that support residents' wellbeing and daily enjoyment.

• Prepare and present nutritious, well-balanced meals aligned with set menus
• Support the delivery of specialised and therapeutic diets
• Assist with meal service across dining areas
• Maintain high standards of food safety and hygiene
• Support stock control, ordering, and kitchen organisation
• Contribute to special events, functions, and community activities
• Work collaboratively with the Head Chef and wider team
• Run the kitchen on weekends in an in-charge capacity

This is more than a cooking role - it's your chance to make a genuine difference every day.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role, you must bring:

• Availability to work weekends (essential)
• Previous aged care kitchen experience (essential)
• Previous in-charge / leadership experience in a kitchen environment (essential), as you will be responsible for running the kitchen on weekends.
• Mandatory Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (HLTFSE001, HLTFSE005, HLTFSE007)
• Relevant Industry Training - Food Handling and Hygiene Certificate.
• Commercial Cookery Certificate III / IV.
• Previous experience and working knowledge of menu planning, ordering, and special diet preparation.
• Previous experience working in catering within a residential aged care facility.

ABOUT BAPTISTCARE

BaptistCare is a leading purpose-led care organisation, guided by our Christian identity and serving people and communities across Australia for more than 110 years. We support people to live better through aged care, home care, retirement living, community services, disability support and housing.

We know that life's challenges can make our world feel smaller. With the right people alongside us, it can feel more connected, supported and hopeful again.

That's what we work towards every day - enriching lives through communities of care. Today, more than 70,000 customers, 12,000 employees and close to 2,000 volunteers are part of our communities across Australia.

BaptistCare - Inspired by Jesus to champion care for all.