Kitchen Hand | BOTANIC RIDGE

Bluebird Early Education; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Bluebird Early Education is seeking a part-time Kitchen Hand to support the Centre Chef with planning and preparing nutritious meals for children aged 0–6. The role runs Monday to Friday for 5 hours daily, emphasizing food safety, hygiene, and collaborative work with educators and families.

You will contribute to a caring learning environment by coordinating meals, dietary requirements, and kitchen operations while upholding the centre's nutrition policy and child safety standards.

Qualifications

• Completed vocational qualification in commercial cookery.
• Food safety certificates.
• Experience cooking nutritious meals for children 0–6 years.
• Experience in Early Learning or educational facility desirable.
• Good time management and kitchen management.
• Reliable, positive and well-organised.
• High-quality customer service with colleagues, families, and children.
• First Aid, CPR and Anaphylaxis certificates or willingness to obtain.
• Working with Children Check (Blue Card).

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare daily nutritious meals including breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for children 0–6.
• Prepare meals to meet dietary requirements and allergies as needed.
• Adhere to the centre's nutrition policy and guidelines.
• Interact with Educators, children and families to build community and engagement.
• Run cooking programs for children in the centre as required.
• Maintain a safe and hygienic kitchen in line with centre policies.
• Support the Centre Chef with all kitchen tasks and responsibilities.

Skills

Time management

Reliability

Organisation

Customer service

Education

Vocational qualification in commercial cookery

First Aid

CPR

Anaphylaxis certificate

Working with Children Check (Blue Card)

Job description

Kitchen Hand

Join Bluebird Botanic Ridge, where every child’s early learning journey is celebrated in a world of wonder tailored to their unique stage of development.

Each of our 6 studios is thoughtfully crafted with meaningful daily rituals—from progressive mealtimes and cozy sleep circles to heartfelt acknowledgments of country—creating a caring and intentional environment that supports every child’s well‑being.

We’re proud to offer interactive cooking classes led by our talented on-site chef, giving children hands‑on opportunities to learn about ingredients, cooking skills, and the importance of healthy eating. These sessions spark curiosity and confidence as children dive into the culinary arts, creating tasty meals and snacks together.

Become part of a passionate, supportive team dedicated to inspiring creativity, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning in every child.

Our Early Education Service islooking for enthusiastic and passionate Kitchen Hand to join our team.

The kitchen hand position will support the Centre Chef for 5 hours per day Monday - Friday providing a great work/life balance.

Tasks & responsibilities:

• Support the Centre Chef to plan and prepare daily nutritious meals including breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for children 0 to 6 years of age, including preparation of puree's and any dietary requirements
• Support the Centre Chef to prepare meals to meet the needs of children with special dietary requirements and allergies
• Understanding and adhering to the centre's nutrition policy and guidelines
• Interact with Educators, children, and families to build a sense of community and engagement.
• Run cooking programs for the children in the centre as required.
• Maintaining a safe and hygienic kitchen, in line with the centre policies.
• Kitchen hand will support the Centre Chef with all kitchen tasks and responsibilities

Qualifications to be successful in the role:

• A completed relevant vocational qualification in commercial cookery
• Food safety certificates
• Experience and passion for cooking and presenting a wide variety of nutritious foods that are suitable for children 0 to 6 years of age.
• Previous experience in Early Learning or Educational facility desirable
• Have good time management skills and be confident managing a kitchen.
• Be reliable, positive, and well organised person
• High quality of customer service when working with colleagues, families, and children.
• Must have, or be willing to obtain a First Aid, CPR and Anaphylaxis certificate.
• Working with Children Check (Blue Card)

Please note only suitable applicants will be contacted

All potential employees and volunteers will be required to comply with the Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct PolicyOur screening process includes, but is not limited to, Professional reference checks, Criminal Records Checks, Working with Children Checks and checks of social media accounts.

The safety and wellbeing of children will always be our top priority; Bluebird Early Education has a zero tolerance for any form of child abuse or harm.