• Play a key role in children's nutritional intake + oversee kitchen and food safety.
• Located in the heart of Horsham, we provide long day care and kindergarten services.
• Part-time 50 hours pfn + salary packaging benefits to increase take-home pay.

As the Cook at our Horsham Early Learning service, you will play a key role in implementing the centres’ food safety program and healthy eating policy, focusing on children's nutritional intake and their health, wellbeing, development, and learning.

In this role, you will have overall responsibility for:

• Planning nutritious, balanced meals and snacks that cater to the nutritional, medical, dietary, and cultural needs and preferences of children.
• Monitoring the food budget and managing orders and shopping.
• Preparing and serving meals.
• Overseeing all kitchen operations to ensure safe, clean, and sanitary facilities.
• Ensuring safe food preparation, storage, and disposal practices in compliance with food safety regulations and Nutrition Australia Dietary Guidelines.

You will also support the Centre's philosophy, programs, and policies, contributing to maintaining high standards of care and fostering an environment of continuous improvement.

What’s on offer

In addition to base salary and superannuation, you’ll also receive 17.5% leave loading and the ability to increase your take-home pay by accessing up to $15,900 in salary packaging benefits that can be used on rent, mortgage repayments, or living expenses such as groceries, bills, clothing, streaming services, and much more.

You can also increase your annual leave entitlements through our purchase leave program. When using a Uniting Early Learning service or centre, you can access a 60% discount on the childcare subsidy gap fee and 10 weeks of paid parental leave.

About you

You will hold as a minimum, a current Food safety supervisor certificate. A Trade Cook Certificate III would be well regarded.

You will also bring with you:

• Extensive knowledge of food safety handling practices and procedures, including records to be maintained.
• Extensive experience in planning and preparing nutritious snacks and meals that meet the dietary, medical, preferences and cultural needs of all children.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and provide high-quality nutritious menus that align with providing 75% of children’s daily nutritional requirements.
• Intermediate level of competency in use of the Microsoft Office suite and the internet.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to and communicate effectively with all staff, children, families, and other professionals as required.
• Intermediate level of competency in use of the Microsoft Office suite and the internet.

 View the position description.

How to apply

Click APPLY to submit your interest, and we’ll be in touch shortly. We’ll review applications as they come through and schedule interviews, as we’re keen to engage with someone.

If you have questions about the role, contact Kate Farlow, Program Manager: kate.farlow@vt.uniting.org

About Uniting

At Uniting we are passionate about working together to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice. We have a 5,000 strong workforce of employees and volunteers who deliver a diverse range of services across Victoria and Tasmania.

Visit us: www.vt.uniting.org

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. As a ‘child safe’ organisation, employment with Uniting is subject to a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check and relevant Working with Children Check in your State prior to commencement of any paid or unpaid work and/or participation in any service or undertaking.

Uniting is also committed to equal opportunity and ensuring the workplace is reflective of the community. We encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability.