Cook

St Nicholas Early Education; Newcastle City Council; Hybrid; AUD 39,000 - 50,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted gym membership

Paid parental leave

Salary packaging available

Flexible working arrangements

Ongoing training and development

Job summary

CatholicCare Café, Martha Kitchen, a part of CatholicCare Social Services Hunter Manning, seeks a Cook to prepare high-quality meals for café and functions. You will work with the Head Chef to maintain food safety standards, cleanliness and service, with a focus on community impact and stable weekday hours.

The role supports vulnerable young people and refugees, offering a rewarding environment, professional development and flexible scheduling.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar fast-paced environment delivering high-volume food.
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Responsibilities

• The Cook carries out general cleaning, food preparation and cafe meal preparation duties within the kitchen.
• The Cook prepares high quality, high-volume food in a timely manner following Food Safety Standards.
• The Cook supports the Head Chef in preparing cafe and function meals and replenishes supplies.
• The Cook takes inventory and ensures staff comply with safety regulations and guidelines.
• The Cook collaborates with Head Chef to achieve cafe goals and maintain service quality.
• Flexibility to work after hours, weekends and public holidays as required.

Skills

High-volume food experience

Excellent communication

Time management

Computer literacy

Empathy toward vulnerable backgrounds

Flexibility after hours

Cultural awareness

Food safety procedures

Education

NSW Driver Licence

NSW Working With Children Check

NSW Food Safety Supervisor Course

Job description

The Opportunity CatholicCare Café, Martha Kitchen, is a busy and welcoming café operated by CatholicCare Social Services Hunter Manning. Serving customers Monday to Friday and catering for functions and conferences throughout the year, the café combines quality food and service with a meaningful purpose. This is a permanent part-time role for a minimum of 25 hours per week.

As a Cook, you will work alongside our Head Chef to prepare and deliver fresh, high-quality café and function meals while maintaining exceptional food safety, cleanliness and service standards. This role offers the unique opportunity to apply your hospitality experience in a supportive and community-focused environment, while enjoying the benefit of predominantly weekday business hours, a rare offering within the hospitality industry. While occasional evening, weekend or function work may be required, this position provides greater work-life balance and more predictable hours than many traditional hospitality roles, making it an excellent opportunity for an experienced Cook seeking both professional fulfilment and lifestyle flexibility.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US

• Directly contribute to improving the lives of many in the community.
• Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport( T&C’s apply ).
• Paid parental leave (for eligible employees).
• Salary packaging available.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A great friendly environment of dedicated and passionate co-workers.
• Corporate benefits, including EAP, flu shots and more.

CatholicCare Cafe is a café owned and operated by CatholicCare Social Services Hunter Manning.

The CatholicCare Cafe operates Monday to Friday as well as hosting functions and conferences which operate some evenings.

CatholicCare Café, Martha Kitchen will be staffed by a professional chef and will employ vulnerable young people aged 15 and above as well as refugee’s and asylum seekers whoundertake a traineeship as part of their employment.

The Cook is required to carry out general cleaning, food preparation and Cafe meal preparation duties within the kitchen.

The Cook prepares high quality and high-volume food in a timely manner and in accordance with Food Safety Standards.

The Cook supports the Head Chef to prepare the café meals and function meals.

Along with direct food preparation, the Cook supports the head chef to replenish supplies and take stock inventories.

The Cook supports the Head Chef to ensure all staff comply with regulations and safety standards.

The Cook works in collaboration with the Head Chef to achieve the overarching goals and strategic direction of the Café.

While the Cook is expected to be present during café operating hours, their work schedule is not strictly determined by these hours.

The incumbent commits to working within Work Health and Safety guidelines and Code of Conduct at all times whilst in the employ of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Desired Skills and Experience

EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA

• A commitment to the Vision, Mission and Values of our organisation and active engagement in organisational events.
• Experience in a similar fast-paced environment which produces high volume food.
• Demonstrated experience working as a Cook in venues which deliver consistently high-quality high volume food in a timely manner and in accordance with food safety standards.
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and display patience and empathy towards the needs of people from vulnerable backgrounds.
• Previous experience working with young people and people from a vulnerable background (Desirable)
• Demonstrated computer literacy with strong administration skills and time management skills.
• Demonstrated experience in ensuring safe food handling procedures are followed and a high level of cleanliness and hygiene of food preparation areas is maintained.
• Flexibility and commitment to working after hours, weekends and public holidays.
• An understanding of culturally aware work practices

QUALIFICATIONS

• NSW Driver Licence.
• A current Working With Children Check for paid employment or willingness to obtain.
• Ability to work in Australia.
• NSW Food Safety Supervisor Course or willingness to obtain (Desirable).

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Applications close 11:59pm on Tuesday, 29/09/2026.

Applications for this position will only be considered if submitted through the following platforms: our careers page on our website, mnpeople, Indeed, Seek, or LinkedIn.

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and preventing those in our care from suffering abuse or neglect. It is committed to implementing and maintaining compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of children or vulnerable persons.

All who work in the name of the Diocese must comply with the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy and act in accordance with the Diocese’s Code of Conduct which includes the Diocese’s Safeguarding Commitment Statement.Employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and retain a valid NSW Working with Children Check where necessary, in accordance with legislation.