Family & Children's Centre Cook

  • 493152
  • Carrum, VIC, Australia
  • Family, Youth & Children's Services
  • Part time
  • Closing on: Feb 26 2026
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  • Exciting opportunity to step into a role with purpose, stability and genuine work–life balance
  • A role where creativity, care and organisation come together
  • Permanent part time position (32.5 hours per week)
  • $69,181 per annum, (dependant on experience) plus superannuation
  • Location:  Kingston Family and Children's Centres

At our Family and Children’s Centre’s, our Centre Cooks are at the heart of our service, bringing joy, comfort and nourishment to our little foodies every day.

You’ll be one of the key people behind the scenes, preparing delicious, nutritious meals and helping create a warm, welcoming environment for children.

About the role

We’re seeking a Permanent Part-Time Centre Cook to join our kitchen team on a rotating fortnightly roster:

  • Week 1-2: Monday to Friday 7am - 2pm
  • Week 3-4: Monday to Friday 8.30am - 3.30pm 

You’ll prepare morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for approximately 130 children, support diverse dietary needs, and work alongside other experienced cooks to design seasonal menus children love.

Why you’ll love working with us

At the City of Kingston, we operate three Family and Children’s Centres across Carrum, Edithvale and Parkdale. Our Centres proudly hold “Exceeding” ratings under the National Quality Standards, and our team is known for being compassionate, collaborative and supportive.

Great conditions & work–life balance

  • Excellent pay and entitlements
  • No evenings, weekends or split shifts (attendance at afterhours staff meetings required)
  • Approximately two weeks off over Christmas/New Year

Well‑resourced kitchen

  • Outstanding facilities, including a fully equipped commercial kitchen
  • A dedicated Food & Nutrition Coordinator and Centre Coordinator
  • A job‑share model with another Centre Cook for seamless operations
  • Clear menu cycles and ordering systems already in place

A valued role in a caring team

  • Warm, collaborative team culture
  • Leadership that recognises your contribution
  • Access to wellbeing initiatives that support your mental and physical health

Growth & development

  • Paid professional development
  • Attendance at our annual conference
  • Opportunities to collaborate on seasonal menus and centre‑wide food experiences

What you’ll do

  • Prepare morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
  • Cater for allergies, intolerances and cultural needs
  • Maintain compliance in the kitchen space adhering to Class 1 food safety standards
  • Manage stock and ordering
  • Contribute to menu planning
  • Maintain kitchen hygiene and compliance
  • Support other kitchen teams when needed
  • Assist educators with children’s cooking experiences

What you bring

A passion for food, nutrition and supporting children’s wellbeing, plus:

  • Certificate 3 in Commercial Cookery (minimum)
  • Current Employee Working with Children check (or willingness to obtain)
  • Level 2 First Aid, including Asthma & Anaphylaxis management and CPR (or willingness to obtain)

The right candidate will be able to demonstrate the City of Kingston’s values of

We make a difference ǀ We show care and respect ǀ We take pride in our work ǀ We are better together

Don’t meet every single requirement for this role? At Kingston Council, we recognise that different experiences make for great community outcomes. If you are excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t perfectly align to the criteria we encourage you to submit your application. 

How to Apply  

To learn more about this role, please view the full Position Description on our Careers website

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and how it relates to the role. To apply, please click the ‘Apply’ button.

All applications must be submitted online through our careers portal.  Please note that we do not accept applications or inquiries from recruitment agencies

Enquiries

For any inquiries about the position, please contact fcc.recruitment@kingston.vic.gov.au  

To be considered for this role, applicants must have the legal right to work in Australia.

For any reasonable adjustments or access needs during the application or interview process, please contact the Hiring Manager or email us at peopleandculture@kingston.vic.gov.au

About Kingston   

Kingston Council’s collective focus is on delivering exceptional service that achieves our vision and meets community expectations. 

We are an inclusive, resilient community with a thriving economy, where we all share a safe, sustainable environment. The City of Kingston is south-east of Melbourne and is approximately 20km from Melbourne's CBD. We employ over 1,600 people in a diverse range of roles including engineering, customer service, administration, finance, family, youth and children's services, sport and recreation, health, parks and gardens, planning, arts and management. 

Why Work for Kingston?

At Kingston Council, we believe in fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued. As an employee of the City of Kingston you will have access to a range of employee benefits designed to promote a positive work/life balance including flexible working arrangements, wellbeing initiatives, discounted gym membership, social club events and Employee Assistance programs (EAP).

For further information visit our website Join our team - City of Kingston 

Kingston City Council is an equal opportunity employer, committed to reconciliation and being a child safe organisation.  

We are dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing people of all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages.

Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community. We support adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. 

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