Chef- Pakenham

Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 34,000 - 47,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Employment Assistance Program (EAP)

Gap fee discount on childcare fees

Paid Birthday Leave

Attractive pay and benefits

Job summary

Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten is seeking a dedicated Centre Kitchen Operator to manage day-to-day kitchen activities at our Pakenham, VIC site. You will plan and prepare nutritious meals for children aged 0 to 6, following nutrition guidelines and budget guidelines while maintaining a clean, safe kitchen environment.

The role is permanent part-time (Monday to Friday, up to 37.5 hours per week) with benefits including EAP, childcare fee discounts, and birthday leave.

Qualifications

• Experience in preparing meals for children preferred.
• Ability to follow nutrition guidelines and Healthy Together program.
• Strong communication with educators, children and families.
• Capable of managing stock, inventories and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare daily meals and snacks for children 0–6.
• Maintain a safe, hygienic kitchen per centre policies.
• Order stock and manage供应 stock levels.
• Ensure compliance with nutrition guidelines and budget.
• Engage with educators and families to support community.

Skills

Communication

Time management

Organisation

Independent work

Kitchen hygiene

Education

Commercial Cookery Certificate III or higher

Job description

Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten – Pakenham VIC

2d ago , from Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten

You will be instrumental in running the day-to-day operations of our centre kitchen. This is a permanent part-time position, workingMonday to Friday(up to 37.5 hours per week).

Connect, Learn & Grow with Aspire

At Aspire, our vision is in shaping a positive future for our children through our grow, learn and connect curriculum. Aspire to grow, learn and connect goes beyond what we can teach our children, it is our vision for our team, families and communities. We place a great focus on family and community engagement as we aim to inspire a love of learning in everyone.

Why Aspire?

• Beautiful state of the art industrial kitchen
• Access to an Employment Assistance Program (EAP) that is available 24/7
• Access a gap fee discount on childcare fees at any Aspire Early Education Centre
• Supportive culture and management team
• Attractive pay and benefits

You will be instrumental in running the day-to-day operations of our centre kitchen. This is a permanent part-time position, workingMonday to Friday(up to 37.5 hours per week).

Connect, Learn & Grow with Aspire

At Aspire, our vision is in shaping a positive future for our children through our grow, learn and connect curriculum. Aspire to grow, learn and connect goes beyond what we can teach our children, it is our vision for our team, families and communities. We place a great focus on family and community engagement as we aim to inspire a love of learning in everyone.

Why Aspire?

• Beautiful state of the art industrial kitchen
• Access to an Employment Assistance Program (EAP) that is available 24/7
• Access a gap fee discount on childcare fees at any Aspire Early Education Centre
• Paid Birthday Leave
• Supportive culture and management team
• Attractive pay and benefits

The Opportunity & Responsibilities

An excellent opportunity to showcase your passion for preparing healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for children. You will plan and prepare daily nutritious meals, including breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for children aged 0 to 6, whilst considering dietary requirements and Healthy Together Achievement Program. You will be provided autonomy with menu planning and cooking healthy daily meals whilst being responsible for adhering to the budget.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and Prepare meals
• Comply with the centre’s nutrition guidelines
• Handle stock ordering
• Maintain a safe and hygienic kitchen in accordance with centre policies
• Engage with educators, children and families to foster a sense of community and involvement.

About you

• Commercial Cookery Qualifications / Certificate III or higher
• Food Safety Supervisor Certificate
• Safe Food Handling Certificate
• Previous experience in childcare preferred
• Ability to cater for dietary requirements and restrictions including Anaphylaxis, Allergies and Intolerances
• Experience in planning nutritionally balanced meals in line with the Healthy Together Achievement Program
• Ensure health & safety standards are maintained at a high level at all times
• Effective time management and organizational skills
• Ability to work on your own and maintain a clean and functional kitchen
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Current Working with Children check, First-Aid Certificate, Asthma and Anaphylaxis training

Core Values and Principles

Our Values
At Aspire, our values are the foundation of everything we do. They guide how we bring our purpose and vision to life.

Inspiring & Nurturing
We are committed to creating environments where children feel inspired to explore, learn, and grow. Through care, encouragement, and innovative education, we nurture the potential of every child, inspiring them to embrace their own unique path.

Building Trust
Trust is the cornerstone of all meaningful relationships. We prioritise open communication, transparency, and reliability in our partnerships with families, our people, and communities, ensuring we remain a trusted ally in the pursuit of raising and educating children.

Empowering Excellence
We believe in igniting excellence in our people by creating opportunities for growth, learning, and achievement. By investing in our educators and employees, we foster a culture of continuous improvement that directly impacts the quality of care and education we provide.

Connecting Communities
We are passionate about building strong, connected communities where children and families thrive together. Through collaboration, shared purpose, and a commitment to making a difference, we strengthen the bonds that unite us, creating a brighter future for all.

If you share our vision and want to join our community, we encourage you to apply.
At Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten, we're committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment that promotes child safety, well-being, participation, empowerment, cultural safety, and awareness for all children, including those with disabilities and from culturally diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and communities. Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten has a zero tolerance of child abuse and a duty of care to prevent and minimise child abuse risks in both the physical and online environments.
Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences strengthen our teams and help us grow. We are committed to providing a workplace where every person is valued, respected, and supported to progress.
We are also deeply committed to Reconciliation and creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People feel a strong sense of belonging and connection.