Food Service Assistant

Southern Cross Care (Vic); Ballarat; On-site; AUD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy Health is seeking a dedicated Food Service Assistant in Ballarat to support meal preparation, dining service, and resident engagement within aged care facilities.

You will follow food safety protocols, assist with dietary needs, and collaborate with kitchen staff to ensure high-quality meals and smooth operations.

Qualifications

• Food safety training or certification as required by local regulations.
• Experience in food service or kitchen, especially aged care, is beneficial.
• Understanding of dietary requirements common in aged care.
• Good verbal communication with residents and staff.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
• Capability to perform physical tasks, including lifting and standing for long periods.
• Strong attention to food presentation and safety practices.
• Willingness to work varied shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Meal Preparation: assists in preparing and serving meals according to dietary requirements and resident preferences.
• Food Safety: follows food safety protocols to ensure hygiene and prevent contamination.
• Resident Interaction: engages with residents during mealtime, providing companionship and support.
• Cleaning Duties: cleans and maintains kitchen and dining areas, ensuring a tidy environment.
• Assisting with Dietary Needs: works with dietitians to accommodate special dietary needs and preferences.
• Training and Compliance: participates in training on food safety regulations and compliance standards.
• Collaboration: works closely with chefs and other kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations.
• Feedback Collection: gathers feedback from residents about meal quality and preferences for improvement.

Skills

Food Handling

Food Service

Dietary Needs

Communication

Teamwork

Physical Stamina

Attention to Detail

Flexibility

Job description

Upload with application: Resume, cover letter, and all relevant qualifications

Where there's life, there's Mercy.

Where there's care, there's You.

Through the battles and the breakthroughs, we're there. Where will you be?

For over a century, our incredible teams have provided care for people when they need it most. Our people feel great pride in that, and they value the security and stability we offer. But it also means so much opportunity - to build on all that's gone before, to grow your impact and gain experience that's hard to find elsewhere.

As a for-purpose organisation with over 10,000 dedicated, compassionate people, we continue to offer more services and deeper care than ever before. With Mercy, you'll have the chance to make an impact and gain experience that's hard to find elsewhere.

At Mercy Health, it's all about taking what we have and making it better.

To do that, we need you.

Join us at Mercy Health, and help our teams deliver even greater outcomes.

About the opportunity

At Mercy Health, each moment, no matter how small, truly matters - and as a Food Service Assistant, you'll create cherished moments each day.

• Meal Preparation: Assists in preparing and serving meals according to dietary requirements and resident preferences.
• Food Safety: Follows food safety protocols to ensure hygiene and prevent contamination.
• Resident Interaction: Engages with residents during mealtime, providing companionship and support.
• Cleaning Duties: Cleans and maintains kitchen and dining areas, ensuring a tidy environment.
• Assisting with Dietary Needs: Works with dietitians to accommodate special dietary needs and preferences.
• Training and Compliance: Participates in training on food safety regulations and compliance standards.
• Collaboration: Works closely with chefs and other kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations.
• Feedback Collection: Gathers feedback from residents about meal quality and preferences for improvement.

What you'll bring

You're reliable, resilient and have a whole lot of heart. Most importantly, you are genuinely interested in supporting others and making a difference in your community.

To thrive in this role, you will have:

• Food Handling Certification: Completion of food safety training or certification, often required by local health regulations.
• Experience: Previous experience in food service or a kitchen environment, especially in aged care, is beneficial.
• Knowledge of Dietary Needs: Understanding of nutritional requirements and dietary restrictions common in aged care.
• Communication Skills: Good verbal communication skills to interact effectively with residents and staff.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Physical Stamina: Capability to perform physical tasks, including lifting, standing for long periods, and moving equipment.
• Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail, especially regarding food presentation and safety practices.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work varied shifts, including weekends and holidays, as needed.

You will also be required to provide the below:

NDIS clearance OR NDIS application and recent police check

Ready to help us shape the future of healthcare?

Join us and make a meaningful difference in people's lives - and your career.

Please contact us if you would like to find out more or communicate any requirements to ensure we provide you with a fair and equitable interview and selection process.

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples, traditional Custodians of the Land in which our Head Office is based, on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation and recognise their deep connections to the land, sea, and culture.

We extend this acknowledgment to the many Traditional Lands that we operate across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

The team at Mercy Health is as wonderfully diverse as the patients, residents, clients and communities we support. We're proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Mercy Health strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, sexualities, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.