Laboratory and Kitchen Support

government schools; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Wyndham Central College in Victoria invites applications for an Education Support role. The position involves coordinating and supporting education support staff within the Laboratory and Kitchen areas, under supervision and direction, aligning with school policy.

The role focuses on assisting teachers, managing routine tasks, and ensuring OH&S standards across science and food technology labs, with opportunities to develop project coordination skills and contribute to student support programs.

Qualifications

• Ability to follow established guidelines and frameworks in daily tasks.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and support colleagues.
• Strong written and oral communication within school settings.

Responsibilities

• Support students and staff in the Laboratory and Food Tech & Kitchen areas.
• Coordinate routine tasks and assist teachers within specified programs.
• Ensure OH&S policies are followed and assist with ordering and supplies.
• Assist with demonstration and practical activities for classes.
• Provide administrative and logistical support under supervision and direction.

Skills

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Advising management

Job description

Occupation: Education and training

Reference: 1552135

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.

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

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 Laboratory and Kitchen Assistant will support students and staff by ensuring the efficient operation of the Laboratory and Food Tech & Kitchen work area. Your time will be shared between the science laboratory (60%) and food technology area (40%). You will work alongside the Laboratory Manager and Food Technology Assistant and as part of the Science Faculty and Technology Faculty teams.

Duties will include:

Laboratory Support

• Conducts routine scientific procedures and/or data collection, collation, and analysis
• Applies basic scientific principles to enable the performance of a variety of interrelated technical tasks
• Provides specialised knowledge that is relied upon to deliver support services, under direction (e.g. information technology and technical support in science laboratories, food technologies and libraries)
• Contributes to a small project team providing technical support to a school/s
• Conducts training and/or instruction with respect to scientific processes
• Prepares experiments or use of equipment and conducts demonstrations, where required, under direct supervision
• Undertakes relevant occupational health and safety requirements and, where necessary, risk assessments within the relative work area
• Undertakes low/medium risk tasks as defined by the Departmental Risk Matrix or its successor

The Food Technology Assistant supports students and staff by ensuring the efficient operation of the Food Tech & Kitchen work area.

Cleaning Duties:

• Clean all work areas after practical classes
• Wash, dry and fold linen used as part of practical classes
• Set up practical classes including, tea towels, soaps, trolleys etc
• Refill detergent containers at each work areas as required
• Undertake daily, weekly and end of term cleaning tasks as required; identifying and adapting to needs.
• Maintenance of clean and organised food stores, pantry, refrigerators, and freezers.

Practical Demonstrations:

• Prepare demonstration for classroom teacher such as food and equipment
• Set up food for students to use - set up required quantities
• Divide meat and other foods into appropriate quantities for practical classes
• Preparation of components for practical tasks (e.g., pre-cooking an element for student use).
• Supervision of students during collection of ingredients and equipment and provision of advice on correct technique as necessary.

Ordering and Purchasing:

• Calculation of food order requirements based on teacher stated curriculum, taking into account present stock levels, perishability of foodstuffs and number of classes running for the week.
• Order and prepare ingredient substitutions for dietary requirements as per individual student requirements and/or teacher instruction.
• Liaison with external providers for prompt delivery, discounts on bulk purchase and best price for goods ordered.
• Process receipts and invoices as per school procedures.
• Maintain stores of staple ingredients - flour, butter, spices, and eggs for example
• Receive, check and appropriately store deliveries, maintaining food safety processes and quality control at all times.

Other duties:

• Regularly check supplies of bulk products and use by dates
• Receive food from suppliers and store as required

Package and store if required, cooked foods prepared by students

• Co-ordinate, organise and determine work priorities within the work area in relation to preparation of ingredients and equipment, and cleaning of facility.
• Maintenance of OH&S requirements of Kitchen, including correct storage and use of chemicals and Safety Data Sheets.
• Maintain communication with class teachers, faculty head and other food technology assistants through email and other meetings as required
• Be familiar with the functions and operations of kitchen equipment for the purposes of testing and preparing equipment for demonstration. Monitor and report damaged equipment toFacilities team and/or Domain Leader.

Other tasks

• Attend professional development and training required by the school, and actively seek opportunities to increase knowledge, experience and skills.
• Perform duties to a high professional and ethical standard.
• Other duties as required by Principal & Business Manager, in line with role classification.

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 [e-mail]

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:

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:

• 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.

Wyndham Central College is situated in one of Victoria's major growth corridors, approximately 30 minutes west of Melbourne, and provides education for students in Years 7 to 12 from across the Wyndham community.

The College is committed to delivering a rigorous, guaranteed, and viable curriculum, enhanced by the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. Through AVID, students develop the skills, strategies, and dispositions necessary to succeed in their learning and pursue their chosen pathways with confidence. Wyndham Central College is proud to be one of the first schools in Australia recognised as an AVID Demonstration School, showcasing exemplary teaching and learning practices and the AVID University and Career Readiness System. This recognition reflects the College's commitment to best practice in student success strategies, inquiry-based learning, collaborative teaching approaches, and university and career readiness.

The curriculum is enriched through a range of innovative and challenging programs designed to cater to diverse student interests and aspirations. These include the Years 7-10 Enrichment and Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP), the Years 7-10 Spanish Immersion Program (SIP), the Middle Years STEM Academy, the Football Development Program, and the distinction of being one of only three Hindi Beacon Schools in Victoria.

To further strengthen student outcomes and realise the College vision, all students develop a Careers Action Plan (CAP) and an individual learning plan commencing in Year 7. These plans promote goal setting, reflection, and ongoing consultation between students, teachers, and parents/carers. This strong three-way partnership is fundamental to student success and is supported by an extensive Tutor Advocate program, comprehensive pastoral care structures, whole-school wellbeing initiatives, a Student Services Centre, and a Community Hub.

Supporting the College's Educational Improvement Plan are modern, purpose-built facilities, including a Trade Training Centre, a dedicated Year 7 Centre, Years 8 and 9 Centre, and a Senior Years Centre, each supported by dedicated administration teams. Specialist learning environments include a state-of-the-art Science and STEM Centre, a Performing and Visual Arts Centre featuring an auditorium, and extensive indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, including a gymnasium. These facilities are complemented by thoughtfully designed active and passive recreational spaces, extensive landscaping, and a student-centred library that supports study, research, and collaborative learning.

The College's leadership structure comprises the Principal Class Team, including the Principal and Assistant Principals, each with dedicated leadership portfolios. This team is supported by Leading Teachers responsible for key areas including Year Level Leadership (Engagement and Wellbeing), Literacy, Numeracy, Pathways and Transitions, AVID Pedagogy and Operations, Senior Years Program Management, and Campus Management. Further strengthening instructional excellence are faculty-based Learning Specialists, who lead Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and support the implementation of high-impact teaching practices and AVID instructional strategies across the College.

Applications close Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 11.59pm