Connect. Learn. Grow. with Aspire Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten is looking for a passionate and experienced Chef to join our team at our Tarneit Place service.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a dedicated Chef or Cook who wants to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young children, while enjoying the benefits of a Monday to Friday role with no late nights or weekends.
You’ll take ownership of the centre kitchen, preparing fresh, nutritious and delicious meals for children aged 0–5 years, while helping create a positive food culture within the service.
Why Join Aspire?
At Aspire, we are committed to creating workplaces where our people feel supported, valued and empowered to thrive.
- Monday to Friday role – no nights or weekends
- 8:00am–4:00pm shift, including a 30-minute unpaid break
- Permanent part-time position
- Opportunity to be an integral part of the Tarneit Place kitchen team
- Prepare fresh, nutritious meals for children aged 0–5
- 50% childcare gap fee discount at Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten centres
- Paid Birthday Leave
- Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Supportive leadership and positive team culture
- Competitive hourly rate and stable employment
The Opportunity
As the Centre Chef, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, ensuring children receive nutritious, balanced and appealing meals that meet their individual dietary needs.
You will:
- Plan and prepare daily meals including breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Develop and prepare rotating, seasonal menus that align with early childhood nutritional guidelines
- Cater safely and confidently for allergies, anaphylaxis, intolerances and cultural dietary requirements
- Prepare meals independently and ensure food is ready and served according to the centre's daily schedule
- Maintain accurate food safety records and ensure all kitchen practices meet relevant regulations and standards
- Maintain a clean, hygienic and well-organised kitchen environment
- Manage stock levels, order fresh ingredients and work within an allocated budget
- Adjust meal quantities and preparation based on daily attendance and centre requirements
- Work collaboratively with educators and the wider centre team
- Support cooking experiences and food-based learning activities with children where appropriate
- Contribute to a warm, positive and inclusive food culture within the centre
About You
We’re looking for someone who is passionate about food and takes pride in providing high-quality meals for young children.
To be successful, you will have:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent experience
- Current Food Safety Supervisor Certificate
- Previous experience working as a Chef or Cook
- Experience with batch cooking or catering, ideally within early childhood, education, healthcare or a similar environment
- Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene and dietary requirements
- Experience managing allergies, anaphylaxis and special dietary requirements with a high level of attention to detail
- The ability to independently manage a kitchen from ordering through to meal preparation and clean-up
- Excellent organisation and time management skills
- A proactive and adaptable approach to changing centre needs
- A warm, friendly and child-focused personality
- Current Working with Children Check
- Relevant first aid, asthma and anaphylaxis qualifications, or willingness to obtain
A Role Where You Can Make a Difference Working as a Chef in early childhood is about more than preparing meals. You’ll play an important role in supporting children's health, wellbeing and development through nutritious food and positive experiences around mealtimes.
If you're passionate about creating fresh, healthy meals and want a role where your work directly contributes to the wellbeing of young children, we would love to hear from you.
Join the Aspire team at Tarneit Place and help us create a positive food culture from the kitchen up.
Our Commitment Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten is committed to child safety, inclusion and diversity. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are dedicated to creating safe, supportive and empowering environments for all children.
We value diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are also deeply committed to Reconciliation and creating culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
