Lead Educator: Shape A New Early Learning Centre

Playpatch Early Learning; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 34,000 - 44,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Above Award rates

Childcare discounts

Weekday daytime hours

No nights or weekends

Supportive centre team

Improve children’s health

Job summary

The ELO Group is seeking a passionate Early Learning Centre Cook / Chef to prepare fresh, healthy meals for children in a welcoming kitchen team. This permanent part‑time role runs Monday to Friday 8:00am–3:00pm, with options to discuss full‑time hours for the right candidate.

You will plan menus, ensure nutritional standards, manage allergies and maintain a clean, compliant kitchen, collaborating with educators to meet each child’s needs.

Qualifications

• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or higher.
• Current Working with Children Check/Blue Card.
• Current Food Safety Supervisor Certificate.
• Experience in childcare centre kitchen or high‑volume food prep.
• Knowledge of allergy management and dietary requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and cook fresh daily meals and snacks.
• Create nutritious seasonal menus aligned with Nutrition Australia guidelines.
• Ensure meals meet children's nutritional and developmental needs.
• Manage allergies, intolerances and special dietary requirements.
• Maintain clean, organised kitchen and high food safety standards.
• Order food and manage kitchen stock and supplies.
• Maintain Food Safety Manual, checklists and compliance documents.
• Collaborate with educators and centre leadership to respond to children's needs.

Skills

Food preparation

Menu planning

Allergy management

Time management

Education

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

Tools

Food Safety Certification

Job description

Cook / Chef (Early Learning Centre)

The ELO Group believes food is about much more than filling little tummies. It is comfort, connection, learning and an important part of every child’s day.

We are looking for a passionate and organised Early Childhood Cook / Chef to join our friendly team and take ownership of creating fresh, healthy and delicious meals for our children each day.

This is a permanent part‑time position, Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 3:00pm, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a hospitality career without nights or weekends.

Looking for full‑time hours? We are happy to discuss this with the right person.

Why you’ll love working with us

• Above Award rates available for the right applicant
• Significant childcare discounts for your own children
• Monday to Friday daytime hours
• No nights or weekends
• A friendly, welcoming and supportive centre team
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to children’s health, wellbeing and enjoyment of food
• Freedom to bring creativity and variety to nutritious seasonal menus

Your kitchen, your opportunity to make a difference

You will take responsibility for the day‑to‑day operation of the centre kitchen and provide nutritious meals and snacks that children love.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning, preparing and cooking fresh daily meals and snacks
• Creating nutritious seasonal menus aligned with Nutrition Australia guidelines
• Ensuring meals meet children’s nutritional and developmental needs
• Carefully managing all allergies, intolerances and special dietary requirements
• Preparing appropriate meal alternatives where required
• Maintaining a clean, organised and efficiently run kitchen
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene and infection control
• Ordering food and managing kitchen stock and supplies
• Maintaining the centre’s Food Safety Manual, including checklists, records and compliance documentation
• Working closely with educators and centre leadership to understand and respond to children’s individual needs

About you

We are looking for someone who takes pride in their kitchen and genuinely enjoys preparing great food for children.

You will ideally have:

• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or higher
• Current Working with Children Check / Blue Card
• Current Food Safety Supervisor Certificate
• Experience as a childcare centre cook, chef or in a similar high‑volume food preparation environment
• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergy management and dietary requirements
• Excellent organisation and time‑management skills
• Confidence managing a kitchen independently
• A positive, reliable and team‑focused attitude
• A genuine interest in early childhood education, nutrition and children’s wellbeing

A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care / Children’s Services would be highly regarded, but is not essential.

Nutrition and allergy management matter to us

Providing safe, nutritious food is an important responsibility within our centres.

You will play a key role in ensuring every child can safely enjoy their meals, including children with allergies, intolerances, cultural requirements or other dietary needs.

We take allergy management seriously and expect strict adherence to food safety procedures, allergy management plans and best‑practice kitchen processes.

Ready for a cooking role with a better lifestyle?

If you love creating fresh food, enjoy working as part of a friendly team and want a role where your work has a genuine impact on children every day, we would love to hear from you.