Stonnington Early Years Services, located in Malvern, Prahran and Windsor
Early Years Services
City of Stonnington is a child safe and equal opportunity employer committed to an equitable, diverse and socially inclusive work environment and a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. We actively encourage applicants from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, people living with disability, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to explore the opportunity of a career at the City of Stonnington.
Here at the City of Stonnington we aspire to be a leading local government authority and to do this we need the very best people who share our belief in community and who want to make a difference. We value everyone's contributions, lived experience and expertise. We provide an inclusive and respectful workplace culture where everyone is supported to thrive and be authentic. There is a variety of benefits available for our people have a look at “Why Stonnington”.
If you have any support or access requirements, or would like to speak to someone about employment or an alternative processes, please contact Council’s Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.
Please view the below documents for this position:
We are seeking a passionate and creative Cook to join our Early Years Services team. This is a unique opportunity to use your culinary skills to contribute to the health, wellbeing, and development of children by preparing culturally varied, delicious, and nutritious meals and snacks. You’ll play a vital role in creating a positive dining experience that supports children’s growth and nurtures healthy eating habits for life.
Working within a Class 1 registered food premises, you’ll be part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering excellence in early years services. You’ll take pride in maintaining a safe, hygienic kitchen while ensuring every meal meets dietary guidelines, allergy requirements, and cultural preferences.
In this role you’ll:
Plan, prepare, and serve appealing, nutritious, and culturally diverse meals and snacks for infants, toddlers, and young children.
Ensure all food complies with dietary requirements, allergy management plans, Early Years (Childcare) Regulations, Australian Dietary Guidelines, and Health Department standards.
Maintain a safe, hygienic, and welcoming kitchen environment, setting the standard for food preparation and cleanliness.
Manage ordering, stock control, kitchen equipment, and utensils to ensure smooth operations and minimise waste.
Collaborate with Early Years teams to adapt menus to the specific needs of children and respond to feedback.
This permanent full-time role offers a competitive salary of $71,998 – $76,229 per annum plus 12% superannuation, with a rewarding schedule of Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Desired Skills and Experience
To thrive in this role you’ll need:
Food Safety Supervisor or equivalent certification.
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.
Experience as a Chef or Cook, ideally within childcare, school, aged care, or similar environments.
Current Working With Children Check.
Strong understanding of children’s nutrition, dietary requirements, and allergy management.
A passion for creating nourishing meals that delight children and contribute to their wellbeing.
Why you’ll love working here:
This role offers a rewarding opportunity to combine your culinary skills with a genuine purpose - supporting children’s health and development through nutritious food. You’ll enjoy working in a collaborative, supportive environment that values creativity, quality, and care. Your work will have a real impact every day, and you’ll be part of a team that takes pride in making a difference.
Work for Stonnington today. Work that matters. People who make a difference.
Enquiries
For enquiries relating to the role, please contact Thais Mendonca - Team Leader - Princes Close Childcare ontmendonc@stonnington.vic.gov.au
For enquiries relating to the system and the application process, please contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.
Submitting your application
Please use your cover letter to demonstrate to us that you have what is needed to thrive and to tell us more about you and why you want to want to work for us.
