Early Childhood Centre Cook

Harmony Early Education; Ripley; On-site; AUD 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Referral bonus

Retention payment

Harmony Academy access

Wellness support

Team events

Job summary

Harmony Early Education Ripley is seeking a Centre Cook to craft nutritious, kid-friendly meals that support growth and wellbeing. You’ll create a safe, clean kitchen, manage stock, and collaborate with educators to meet dietary needs.

The role focuses on seasonal menus, budget-conscious planning, and hands-on cooking for children across ages, with opportunities to contribute to staff events and nutrition education.

Qualifications

• Current Food Safety Handling Certificate is required.
• Completion of National Child Safety Training via Geccko with current certificates.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare nutritious, seasonal meals and snacks that support children’s growth, development, and wellbeing.
• Maintain a safe, hygienic, and well-organised kitchen environment while ensuring supplies are well stocked.
• Order ingredients, manage inventory, and monitor stock levels to support efficient kitchen operations.
• Collaborate with educators to understand and accommodate children’s dietary requirements, allergies, and preferences.
• Support the centre’s mealtime routines and assist educators to create a positive dining experience for children.
• Prepare occasional cooking and baking for staff celebrations, family events, and centre activities.
• Be open to expanding knowledge of nutrition across different age groups, with a focus on infant nutrition and feeding needs.

Skills

Food budgeting

Menu planning

Dietary requirements

Safety-conscious

Education

Food Safety Handling Certificate

Job description

More Than a Kitchen Job – Nourish Young Minds. Create with Purpose. Make a Difference Every Day.

Join the team everyone is talking about and play a vital role in creating nutritious, delicious meals that support children’s growth, learning, and wellbeing.

As our Centre Cook, you’ll bring creativity, care, and passion to the kitchen, helping to create positive experiences for children through the power of food.

Why Harmony?

At Harmony Early Education Ripley, we see every child as a confident, capable learner and a valued member of our community. Our centre is a calm, welcoming environment where curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connections thrive. Every space is thoughtfully designed to inspire learning, including our kitchen.

Our food program is far more than preparing meals. It plays an essential role in supporting children’s health, wellbeing, and development while fostering positive relationships with food from an early age. We believe that what children eat matters and so does the care, quality, and passion that goes into every meal.

Why Harmony is where you will thrive:

We don’t just offer jobs…We offerBelonging. Growth. Support. Respect.

Enjoy benefits that genuinely make a difference:

• 75% off childcare fees - because your family matters too
• Up to $3,000 referral bonuses
• 15% retention payment on top of Award
• A dedicated learning platform - Harmony Academy
• Wellness support, fun events & a team culture people stay for

Your Role

As Centre Cook, you’ll play a key role in creating a nurturing, healthy environment through food. You will:

• Plan and prepare nutritious, seasonal meals and snacks that support children’s growth, development, and wellbeing.
• Maintain a safe, hygienic, and well-organised kitchen environment while ensuring supplies are well stocked.
• Order ingredients, manage inventory, and monitor stock levels to support efficient kitchen operations.
• Collaborate with educators to understand and accommodate children’s dietary requirements, allergies, and preferences.
• Support the centre’s mealtime routines and assist educators where needed to create a positive dining experience for children.
• Prepare occasional cooking and baking for staff celebrations, family events, and centre activities.
• Be open to expanding knowledge of nutrition across different age groups, with a focus on infant nutrition and feeding needs.
• Work Monday to Friday, 6:30am-2:30pm, with flexibility to discuss alternative hours for the right candidate.

About You

You are passionate about creating food with purpose and care.You have:

• A current Food Safety Handling Certificate.
• Completion of all required National Child Safety Training via Geccko, with current certificates of completion
• Strong knowledge of dietary requirements, allergy management, and safe food practices.
• Practical understanding of food budgeting, menu planning, and managing kitchen resources efficiently.
• Previous cooking experience in an early childhood setting is desirable, but not essential.
• A genuine commitment to supporting children’s growth, development, and wellbeing through nutritious and enjoyable meals.

Why Ripley?

Harmony Ripley is a 190-place centre in the rapidly growing Ripley Valley, offering a vibrant, family-friendly environment. Surrounded by lush parks, community events, and natural beauty, it’s a peaceful haven that supports both children's growth and a healthy work-life balance.

Our Commitment to Child & Cultural Safety.

At Harmony you will be part of a team deeply committed to child and cultural safety.
We take this seriously every child should feel safe, seen, heard and respected and we empower our educators to uphold these values every single day.

Protecting Every Child. Honouring Every Culture. Every Day.

We work proactively to keep children safe through strong policies, ongoing training and open conversations. We walk alongside families and communities to create environments where every child’s identity is celebrated and every voice is valued.

Ready to be Part of Something Bigger?

If you're looking for a place where your work truly matters, your ideas are valued, and every day has purpose, we'd love to hear from you.