Lady Huntingfield Children's Centre Cook

Vacancy Details

Synopsis:

• 17 August to 7 December 2026
• Part time - 30 hours per week (Mon-Fri, 8am-2:30pm)
• Located at Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Service Centre
• $73,324 to $85,003 pro rata (Dep on Skills xp.) 12% Super

About the role

The Children Services Cook sits within the Family & Children’s Services team and offers an exciting opportunity to support the health, wellbeing and development of young children.

In this hands-on role, you’ll plan and prepare nutritious, culturally inclusive meals for children in our education and care services—helping create positive food experiences every day.

Working as part of a collaborative and values-driven team, you’ll ensure meals meet dietary, allergy and food safety requirements, while contributing to a safe and welcoming environment for children, families and educators.

A little more about the role

• Plan, prepare and deliver healthy meals daily for 160 children aged 0-6 years, including morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, in line with menu plans and food safety requirements
• Manage food purchasing, stock and kitchen operations within budget constraints
• Maintain accurate food safety records and ensure compliance with the Food Safety Plan and relevant legislation
• Prepare meals that cater to allergies, cultural needs and developmental dietary requirements of children

Why join Team Melbourne?

Located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, Melbourne is globally recognised as one of the most liveable, diverse, and dynamic cities.

At the heart of it all is the City of Melbourne – a passionate, purpose-driven organisation where your work truly matters. As part of Team Melbourne, you’ll help deliver what’s most important to the people who live, work, study, visit and invest in our great city.

We’re proud champions of diversity, committed to continuous improvement, and driven by a shared vision for a vibrant and sustainable future.

This is more than just a role – it’s your chance to make a real impact, contribute to something bigger, and shape Melbourne’s future alongside a collaborative and forward-thinking team.

About you

You’re collaborative, reliable and proactive, with the ability to adapt to the needs of children, families and the service.

What your experience might look like - Key Selection Criteria

• Tertiary qualification in hospitality or early childhood
• Current Food Safety Supervisor or Food Handling Level 1 – Health and Community Certificate
• Current First Aid or ability to complete before commencing
• Experience preparing large volumes of nutritious, balanced meals for children
• Strong understanding of food allergies and dietary requirements in early childhood settings
• Knowledge of Food Act requirements, Food Safety Plans and relevant guidelines
• Ability to create culturally inclusive menus and document recipes and processes
• Confidence using commercial kitchen equipment independently
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with educators and families

Benefits of working with us

• Attractive remuneration & benefits: Excellent pay package with a range of exciting benefits. And great corporate discounts.
• Excellent leave entitlements: Enjoy up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave for primary carers, in addition to the government-funded parental leave, with no waiting period to access. Part-time equivalents are also available for added flexibility.
• Career progression: Career development support and opportunities to learn new skills within a creative and exciting environment.

How to apply

We'd love to hear how you can make an impact in this role! As part of your application, you will be required to:

• Attach your updated resume
• Include a cover letter (max one page) outlining your relevant experience and why you're a great fit for this role.

Submit your application no later than 11:45pm on Sunday, 5 July 2026.

** Interviews will be held on Monday 13 July 2026**

A few important things to note – don’t miss out!

• Applications must be submitted online. Unfortunately, we can’t accept applications via email, so please be sure to apply through the official job link provided.
• Apply early! This role may close sooner than the listed closing date if we find the right candidate — so don’t wait to get your application in.
• We are a child safe organisation. The City of Melbourne has a zero tolerance for child abuse. All employees undergo thorough safety screening, including a Police Check and, for all roles, a Working with Children Check.

Need more info?

Refer to the position description below or contact Michele Williams, Children’s Services Operational Coordinator ***email_hidden***

Inclusion matters

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and people of all ages and faith backgrounds.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to support all applicants. If you require any adjustments, please let us know via the application prompts or inform our Careers team if you’re contacted for an interview.

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