Regional Relief Chef VIC

Opal Healthcare; Victoria; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Scholarships up to $15,000

Secondment opportunities

Referral bonuses $5,000

Career development

Leadership pathways

Job summary

Opal HealthCare is seeking a Regional Relief Chef to deliver outstanding dining experiences across multiple care communities in regional Victoria. You will step into Head/Sous Chef duties during absences, ensuring continuity, quality and joy in every meal for residents.

This senior culinary role requires leadership, strong food safety knowledge and the ability to coach kitchen teams while maintaining budgets and stock control. Regional travel is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Head Chef.
• Supervisory or leadership experience in hospitality or aged care.
• Excellent communication, leadership and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious, high-quality meals aligned with resident dietary needs and preferences.
• Create meaningful food experiences that enhance resident wellbeing.
• Lead kitchen and hospitality teams when covering Head Chef or Sous Chef duties.
• Maintain exceptional standards in food safety, hygiene, and WHS compliance.
• Manage stock, ordering, and kitchen budgets in line with procurement guidelines.
• Build strong connections with residents, families and team members.
• Support training, onboarding and coaching of kitchen staff.
• Contribute to seasonal menu creation and community catering events.

Skills

Leadership

Food Safety

Communication

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Food Safety Supervisor Certification

Job description

\"At Opal HealthCare, we know that companies don’t succeed, people do.\"
Our purpose is to bring joy to those we care for and our values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence reflect that CARE is at the heart of everything we do. Opal HealthCare is one of Australia’s leading aged care providers with over 145 Care Communities and over 23,000 team members nationwide.

About the Role

We’re looking for a passionate and experienced Regional Relief Chef to support our care communities by delivering exceptional dining experiences and stepping into key culinary leadership roles during periods of leave. This role is central to ensuring continuity, quality, and joy in every meal served to our residents.

What’s on Offer

• Location: Regional travel across your assigned Opal HealthCare region
  


• Employment Type: Permanent full-time
  


• Remuneration: Attractive base salary + 12% superannuation
  


• Variety & Flexibility: Work across multiple Care Communities, bringing your skills where they are needed most

Why Choose Opal?

• Supportive work environment — Join an experienced hospitality and leadership team
  


• Career development through the Opal HealthCare Academy and culinary upskilling programs
  


• Leadership pathways — Grow into senior culinary or hospitality leadership roles
  


• Study support — Scholarships up to $15,000 for further professional development
  


• $5,000 referral bonuses for bringing great people into the team
  


• National secondment opportunities — Explore new locations and broaden your experience
  


• Be part of sector-leading innovation in aged care food services

What You’ll Do

• Prepare nutritious, high-quality meals aligned with resident dietary needs, preferences, and cultural requirements
  


• Create meaningful food experiences that enhance resident wellbeing
  


• Lead kitchen and hospitality teams when covering Head Chef or Sous Chef duties
  


• Maintain exceptional standards in food safety, hygiene, and WHS compliance
  


• Manage stock, ordering, and kitchen budgets in line with Opal procurement guidelines
  


• Build strong connections with residents, families, and team members
  


• Support training, onboarding, and coaching of kitchen staff
  


• Contribute to seasonal menu creation and community-wide catering events

What You’ll Need

• Food Safety Supervisor Certification
  


• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Head Chef
  


• Previous supervisory or leadership experience (hospitality/aged care highly regarded)
  


• Excellent communication, leadership, and time-management skills
  


• Ability to stay calm, professional, and solutions-focused in busy kitchen environments
  


• Understanding of Food Safety, WHS, infection control, and relevant legislation
  


• Willingness to complete:
  • Pre-employment medica
  • Police Check
  • NDIS Worker Screening Check

Create Meaningful Experiences Through Food

If you are a talented chef who believes food plays a vital role in joy, wellbeing, and connection, this is your opportunity to make a profound impact across multiple communities.