Childcare Chef

Little Zak's Academy; Central Coast; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Worker Retention Pay

Competitive pay

Childcare discount

Wellbeing day

Wellness allowance

Referral bonus

Sonder EAP

Dinner provided at staff meetings

Induction program

Mentoring buddy

Study progression support

Career progression

Job summary

Little Zak's Academy is seeking a dedicated full-time Cook/Chef to join our team at Little Zak’s Academy The Entrance. You will prepare and serve fresh, nutritious meals daily for children, following our rotating seasonal menus.

You will manage daily food preparation, maintain a clean kitchen, and ensure all meals meet dietary and allergy requirements. We offer a supportive, mentoring environment with opportunities for development and a strong focus on staff wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Relevant hospitality/cookery qualification or nutrition background.
• Experience in a similar role desirable.
• Knowledge of allergy management and dietary restrictions.
• WWCC or willingness to obtain one.
• Food safety certificate or willingness to obtain.
• First aid certificate or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Prepare morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea based on a rotating 4-week menu.
• Ensure meals meet dietary and allergy requirements.
• Maintain safe, hygienic storage, handling and preparation.
• Order supplies within budget and check deliveries.
• Work with Centre Director to create wholesome menus.
• Communicate positively with children and staff daily.

Skills

Menu planning

Allergy management

Food safety

Kitchen hygiene

Food preparation

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Hospitality/cookery qualification

Nutrition background

Tools

Food Safety Supervisor Certificate

First Aid Certificate

Job description

• Monday - Friday with set hours, enjoy a great work-life balance with no weekends
• Inclusive & supportive team & get mentored by our experienced centre management

• Monday - Friday with set hours, enjoy a great work-life balance with no weekends
• Modern, purpose built centre & excellent kitchen facilities
• Inclusive & supportive team & get mentored by our experienced centre management

Little Zak's Academy is privately owned and family run. Our aim is to provide early childhood care and education in a safe, welcoming, adopting and nurturing environment.

Our staff are dedicated professionals who value the importance of maintaining an optimum level of care and education for all children. We select our staff based on knowledge and values, vision for children and learning, and commitment to families.

We are seeking a dedicated full-time Cook/Chef to join our team at Little Zak’s Academy The Entrance. In this role, you will prepare and serve fresh, nutritious meals each day for children, following our rotational seasonal menus. You will manage daily food preparation, maintain a clean and organised kitchen, and ensure all meals meet dietary and allergy requirements.

Why Join Us?

• We are proud to be part of the Australian Government’s Worker Retention Payment program. Eligible team members at Little Zak's Academy now receive an additional 15% on top of award rates. The Australian Government announced that the Worker Retention Payment program would be extended until 30 June 2028, continuing to support wage increases for eligible early childhood educators.Little Zak's Academy was one of the first approved providers nationally to participate in this initiative, ensuring our team could access these additional benefits from the commencement of the program.
• Competitive remunerationdepending on your qualification and experience
• Up to50 percent staff childcare discount
• Paidwellbeing dayeach year for permanent staff (after 12 months)
• Health and wellness allowance reimbursing up to$50 per month(gym, pool, wellness memberships)
• $1,000 employee referral bonusfor each successful referral
• Employee Assistance Program viaSonder, offering unlimited confidential counselling and wellbeing support
• Paid staff meetings, including dinner provided
• Paid off-floor induction with structured onboarding and training
• Mentoring and buddy system for all new starters
• Study support throughPay for Progression, including Certificate III, Diploma, and Early Childhood Teaching pathways (T&Cs apply)
• Strong promote-from-within culture with long-term career opportunities

About the role:

• Prepare morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea for the children based on a 4-week rotating menu
• Ensure that the meals prepared meet the special dietary needs of the children with allergies &cultural preferences
• Ensure safe and hygienic storage, handling and preparation of food and drinks
• Order food supplies in line with menus and within the Centre's budget and check of food deliveries made to the Centre
• To work with the Centre Director to create and prepare a wholesome menu
• Communicate positively with children and staff on a daily basis

About you:

• Relevant qualification in hospitality/commercial cookery/nutrition or early childhood education
• Previous experience in a similar role desirable
• Menu planning and allergy management experiences
• Current Working with Children Checkor willingness to obtain one
• Food Safety Supervisors Certificate or willingness to obtain one
• First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain one

Little Zak's Child Safety Commitment

Little Zak’s Academy is a Child Safe Organisation. We prioritise the safety, wellbeing, and rights of all children and maintain a strong culture of child safety across our services. As part of our commitment, we have arigorous recruitment and screening processin place, including comprehensive reference checks, Police checks and child-safe employment checks.

By applying for a role with Little Zak’s Academy, you acknowledge and agree to undergo all required child safety checksas part of our employment process.

We are an equal opportunity workplace where diversity is embraced. We foster a culture that supports inclusion and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.