Kitchen Assistant - Education Support

Melbourne City Mission; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Hester Hornbrook Academy is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support food handling, preparation and kitchen assistance for educational outcomes at the Geelong campus. You will collate orders, shop weekly, prepare ingredients, and assist students during practical classes.

The role requires collaboration with a multidisciplinary team and a background in education support, WWCC, and a current driver’s licence. A full-time position offering growth within a HOPE-inspired educational setting.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team to support young people.
• Experience engaging with diverse youth, including those from LGBTQI+ and trauma-informed settings.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and relevant student support skills.

Responsibilities

• Collate orders for practical classes and prepare orders for supermarket, greengrocer and butcher.
• Complete weekly supermarket shopping for breakfast club, lunch, and pantry items.
• Set up and prepare ingredients/equipment for teacher demonstrations and assist students during practical classes.
• Assist students with cleaning of workstations and equipment to maintain hygiene.
• Clean kitchen surfaces, appliances, equipment, and utensils; ensure proper safety and cleanliness.
• Ensure compliance with Child Safe standards and HOPE practice guidelines.

Skills

Collaboration

Trauma-informed practice

Youth work

Team player

Education

Education Support qualifications

Working with Children Check (WWCC)

Full Victorian driver's licence

Job description

At Hester Hornbrook we offer daily breakfast club and lunch, prepared by our school chef. We also have a variety of pantry and frozen foods items available on campus for students to take home.

Our Kitchen Assistant will provide specialised food handling, food preparation and kitchen support to achieve specific educational outcomes for the young people of Hester Hornbrook Academy. The role will work collaborative with our multidisciplinary workforce at the Geelong campus.

About Hester Hornbrook Academy:

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a Special Assistance School which provides flexible education and learning options, including Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS), Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), VCE Vocational Major (VM), VCE and an Extend program offering a variety of elective subjects. Recognising that mainstream education is not suitable for all young people, Hester programs are driven by the personal pursuits of students.

Our Healing Orientated Program of Education (HOPE) informs our practice model which ensures the integration of academic intervention and growth with wellbeing and life skills. Teachers, Youth Workers, and Education Support staff work together in a collaborative manner to support students to reach their individual goals.

Learn more about us here:https://www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au

What a day in the role looks like:

Collate orders for individual practical classes and produce orders for supermarket, greengrocer and butcher.

Complete weekly supermarket shopping for daily breakfast club and lunch, and pantry items.

Set up and prepare ingredients and equipment for teacher demonstrations and students and assist selected students as required during practical classes.

Assist students with cleaning of individual workstations including checking of cleanliness of equipment and work area as well as identification of missing equipment.

Clean kitchen surfaces, appliances, equipment, dishes, tea towels and so on.

Ensure that all Child Safe, risk management and Hester Hornbrook documentation is adhered to.

The role:

At Hester Hornbrook we offer daily breakfast club and lunch, prepared by our school chef. We also have a variety of pantry and frozen foods items available on campus for students to take home.

Our Kitchen Assistant will provide specialised food handling, food preparation and kitchen support to achieve specific educational outcomes for the young people of Hester Hornbrook Academy. The role will work collaborative with our multidisciplinary workforce at the Geelong campus.

Full position description available on request.

About Hester Hornbrook Academy:

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a Special Assistance School which provides flexible education and learning options, including Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS), Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), VCE Vocational Major (VM), VCE and an Extend program offering a variety of elective subjects. Recognising that mainstream education is not suitable for all young people, Hester programs are driven by the personal pursuits of students.

Our Healing Orientated Program of Education (HOPE) informs our practice model which ensures the integration of academic intervention and growth with wellbeing and life skills. Teachers, Youth Workers, and Education Support staff work together in a collaborative manner to support students to reach their individual goals.

Learn more about us here:https://www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au

What a day in the role looks like:

• Collate orders for individual practical classes and produce orders for supermarket, greengrocer and butcher.

• Complete weekly supermarket shopping for daily breakfast club and lunch, and pantry items.

• Set up and prepare ingredients and equipment for teacher demonstrations and students and assist selected students as required during practical classes.

• Assist students with cleaning of individual workstations including checking of cleanliness of equipment and work area as well as identification of missing equipment.

• Clean kitchen surfaces, appliances, equipment, dishes, tea towels and so on.

• Ensure that all Child Safe, risk management and Hester Hornbrook documentation is adhered to.

What we are looking for:

• Proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide educational support for young people.

• Experience working with young people, including those who identify as LGBTQI+ and those from diverse cultural backgrounds, in a trauma-informed setting, who have existing barriers to education.

• An understanding of trauma-informed practice and the necessary skills to engage young people with multiple and complex needs.

• Demonstrated capacity to work flexibly and manage competing demands in a secondary school setting.

• Understanding of relevant legislation, including Child Safe Standards as they are relevant to a Senior Secondary School setting.

Qualifications and registrations:

• Relevant qualifications in Education Support, Community Services or related discipline.

• Must have or be willing to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC).

• Valid full Victorian driver's licence.

• Applicants must be full working rights in Australia.

Applications close: Friday, 30 September 2026.

Please note: Hester reserves the right to interview and appoint suitable candidates prior to the closing date.