Food Technician

Department of Education Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Coburg High School, operated by the Department of Education Victoria, invites applicants for an Education Support class role. The position supports students under teacher guidance and carries duties aligned with school policy and established guidelines.

The successful candidate will work within a team, assist teachers, manage routine tasks, and participate in school activities, while maintaining high standards of student wellbeing and safety.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks.
• Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written skills.
• Commitment to professional learning and growth for self and others.

Responsibilities

• Assist in cleaning equipment used during classes.
• Clean all benches.
• Assist with stock and inventory where required.
• Inform teacher/business manager of lost or damaged equipment and assist with checking equipment.
• Assist with school activities such as open evenings, transition activities and parent evenings.
• Work cooperatively as a team.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Guidelines

Professional learning

Job description

Department of Education Victoria – Coburg VIC

2d ago , from Department of Education & Training Victoria

The original Coburg High School was one of the first high schools in Melbourne, and we have a long and proud history. Between 2007 and 2014 the school was known as Coburg Senior High School with an enrolment of students in Years 10-12. In 2015 Coburg High School was re‑established as a Years 7 to 12 school with the inaugural group of Year 7 students. In 2026 there are over 1270 students enrolled at CHS and this has remained stable the last few years. Attendance rates are above state average and student connection to the school is strong. The SFOE is 0.186 in 2026, indicating low levels of disadvantage overall.

Coburg High School has established four core values: Excellence, Integrity, Curiosity and Community. These values underpin our expected behaviours, policies, practices, communication and decision-making and reflect our commitment to continuous improvement, lifelong learning and an inclusive, thriving school community.

Coburg High School is structured around year level teams with the Student Support Team responsible for the engagement and wellbeing of all students. The dedicated Wellbeing team has two counsellors, a Mental Health Practitioner, School Nurse and Youth Worker. Coburg High School is a Schoolwide Positive Behaviours School, Respectful Relationships lead school and adheres to the tenets of restorative justice.

The school has an established online curriculum management system called Coburg Online Google Sites (COGS). COGS is a point of reference of our guaranteed and viable curriculum, which is complemented by our instructional model that uses the acronym GANAG. This model has the key components of goal setting (G), accessing prior knowledge (A), introducing new information (N), applying the new information (A) and finally reviewing the goal (G). We have been working towards VTLM 2.0 implementation since early 2025 and continue to refine our application of High-Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS) within the instructional model paradigm, underpinned by a comprehensive program of professional learning to ensure that strategies are implemented with rigour and fidelity.

As outlined in the School Strategic Plan, the school's central purpose is to maximise the learning growth of every student and improve student wellbeing and agency with the longer-term goal of ensuring all students have opportunities to achieve success. We empower students to thrive in a complex and changing global society. To this end, Coburg High School offers a broad range of subjects, courses and programs for the Victorian Curriculum and the VCE and VCE VM, including partnerships with other schools in the Merri-bek North area and the Centre for Higher Education Studies.

We offer students a wide range of co-curricular programs including inter-school sport, music, drama, dance, student leadership, debating and public‑speaking, science talent searches and fairs, mathematics competitions, art exhibitions, community service, camps, tours and a range of interest-based clubs.

Coburg High School aims to be an interconnected community hub that serves the diverse needs of our students. The school is situated on expansive grounds with an oval and four recently upgraded netball/basketball courts. Our main buildings incorporate generously sized classrooms and specialist spaces (including a theatrette, performing arts space, gymnasium as well as art studios and laboratories). In 2027, we also welcome our new Technology Building, which allows us to expand our Materials, Design and Food Technology subject offerings. As part of the Food wing, there will be a purpose‑built VET standard kitchen with cool room, a junior Food Technology classroom, Dining Room and Food Servery.

We also have a number of sustainability features including a 99.9kW solar array, several large water storage tanks and a thriving greenhouse for horticulture. The school is located in proximity to Merri Creek, Coburg Olympic Pool and Coburg Athletics Track.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4 Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5 Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6 A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Role

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialisedstudent/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

Responsibilities

The position encompasses a variety of duties to be determined in consultation with Food Technology teachers. Typical duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• All food allocated for each class to be set out on separate trays and cut into portions according to recipes or teacher instruction. Clean up after teachers' demonstrations. Set up for practical classes.
• Assist in cleaning equipment used during classes.
• Clean all benches.
• Clean stoves, ovens and microwaves and fully clean ovens each term.
• Deep clean kitchens at the end of every term.
• Wash, dry and fold tea‑towels, oven mitts and tablecloths.
• Clean and tidy cupboards, drawers and shelves when necessary (wash equipment used by students if necessary).
• Sweep floors and empty bins when necessary.
• Clean refrigerators and freezers, defrost each term or semester.
• Be responsible for ordering supplies in consultation with teachers using a computerised ordering system for food technology as well as the Design/Textiles/Wood technology areas.
• Purchase food supplies when necessary.
• Notify the relevant staff of any work area which needs repairs, including lighting tubes.
• Clean kitchens: Staff Lounge.
• Laundry sport uniforms/Café linen as required as well as other items.
• Photocopy of class materials as required.
• Inspect all appliances, lock windows and doors when leaving.
• Check, package and store deliveries.
• Check equipment supplies, ensuring that teachers' and students' benches in both kitchens are appropriately stocked.
• Ensure storage areas are in a clean, safe and in an orderly condition. This includes ensuring that food in fridges is wrapped and appropriately stored, fridges are cleaned and old food thrown out, and the pantry is maintained in an orderly fashion (check use by dates, etc).
• Rotate stock as required.
• Assist with maintaining the equipment inventory and stocktaking.
• Inform teacher/business manager of lost/damaged equipment and assist with checking equipment.
• Assist with school activities such as open evenings, transition activities and parent evening.
• Work cooperatively as a team.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via*******@education.vic.gov.au

Applicants seeking part‑time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case‑by‑case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees,including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Other Information

Thank you for your interest in an education support position at Coburg High School. Coburg High School educates young people to achieve their highest potential, so they become self‑directed, confident and skilled as they take their places in society.

• We equip our students to be confident participants in an evolving world.
• We are an innovative school, committed to improving the dynamic relationship between teaching and learning.
• We develop and nurture young people to be confident of their ability to be leaders and to determine their places in the world.
• We create an environment that values, supports and develops all staff.
• We actively promote values which enable us to build a strong and distinct school community.

This position undertakes routine tasks that are usually carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established and direction is readily available.

Problems can usually be solved by reference to well documented procedures and instructions and clearly established practices. Deviation from established procedures will require reference to others for guidance and direction. Assistance is readily available when problems arise. An experienced employee at range 1.2 will exercise judgement within clearly defined guidelines and well-established practices that relate specifically to the tasks performed.

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx