Childcare Centre Head Chef

Childcare Centre Head Chef | LucasAspire Early Education & Kindergarten Lucas, Ballarat VIC Chefs/Cooks (Hospitality & Tourism) Permanent Part-Time | up to 37.5 hrs/week)

We are excited to welcome an energeticCentre Chefto our kitchen team at ourbrand-newAspire Lucas centre! You will play a key role in running the day-to-day operations of our state-of-the-art centre kitchen.

Connect, Learn & Grow with Aspire ** At Aspire, our vision is in shaping a positive future for our children through ourgrow, learn and connect curriculum**. This extends beyond our children – it’s our vision for our people, families, and the wider community.

Why Aspire?

• Beautiful brand-new state-of-the-art industrial kitchen
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)– available 24/7
• 50% gap fee discounton childcare fees at any Aspire Early Education centre
• Paid Birthday Leave
• Supportive culture and leadership team
• Attractive pay and employee benefits

The Opportunity & Responsibilities A fantastic opportunity to showcase your passion for preparing healthy and nutritious mealsfor children. You will plan and prepare daily meals – breakfast, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea – for children aged 0–6, while catering for dietary requirements and ensuring menus align with theHealthy Together Achievement Program. You’ll have autonomy in menu planning, budget management, and stock control, while keeping our kitchen safe, hygienic, and welcoming.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and prepare balanced meals for children
• Comply with centre nutrition guidelines
• Manage stock ordering and budget requirements
• Maintain safe and hygienic kitchen standards
• Engage with educators, children, and families to foster a sense of community

About You

• Commercial Cookery Qualification / Certificate III or higher
• Food Safety Supervisor & Safe Food Handling Certificates
• Experience in childcare or similar setting preferred
• Strong knowledge of dietary needs (Anaphylaxis, Allergies, Intolerances)
• Proven ability to plan nutritious menus aligned with HTAP standards
• Effective time management & organisational skills
• Ability to work autonomously and maintain a clean, functional kitchen
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
• Current Working With Children Check,First Aid,Asthma, andAnaphylaxis training Aspire Values At Aspire, our values guide everything we do:
• Inspiring & Nurturing– encouraging every child’s unique journey
• Building Trust– through openness, transparency, and reliability
• Empowering Excellence– supporting our people to learn and grow
• Connecting Communities– creating strong, collaborative partnerships Commitment to Child Safety & Inclusion Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten is committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment where every child is respected, empowered, and protected. We celebrate diversity and welcome people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. We proudly support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities through reconciliation and belonging.