Wattle Early Childhood Centre – Lyneham ACT

Please read the advertisement carefully; the position is for a dual centre cook/eductor role or a stand‑alone centre chef role.

Join Our Team – Centre Cook & Educator

Wattle Early Childhood Centre is seeking a passionate, organised and reliable Centre Cook & Educator to join our community‑based, not‑for‑profit early learning service.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys both preparing nutritious meals and being part of a warm, supportive team dedicated to providing exceptional outcomes for children.

About the Role

Ideally, we are seeking someone who is happy to undertake the Centre Cook role for approximately four/five hours each day, preparing nutritious meals and managing the daily operations of our kitchen. In the afternoon, the successful applicant will transition into an Educator/Floating Educator role, supporting children's learning, routines and supervision across the service.

This position is ideally full‑time, providing variety throughout the day while allowing you to build meaningful relationships with children and colleagues.

We understand that this arrangement may not suit everyone, so we are also open to negotiating a part‑time Centre Cook position, provided the successful applicant:

- Is available to work five days per week.
- Can consistently prepare and serve meals within the required timeframes.
- Is committed to meeting the food safety, health and hygiene requirements of the early childhood sector.
- Is willing to work within the regulations,



policies and professional expectations of an education and care service.

Key Responsibilities

Centre Cook

- Prepare nutritious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for children aged 0–5 years.
- Cater for allergies, medical conditions, cultural and dietary requirements.
- Maintain food safety standards and complete all required documentation.
- Manage food ordering, stock control and kitchen cleanliness.
- Create positive mealtime experiences for children.

Educator (Afternoons)

- Support educators in delivering high‑quality education and care.
- Supervise and engage with children through play‑based learning.
- Assist with routines, transitions and learning experiences.
- Build respectful relationships with children, families and colleagues.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

About You

You are someone who:

- Enjoys working with children and values early childhood education.
- Is organised, effective and able to manage competing priorities.
- Has a positive attitude and enjoys working as part of a collaborative team.
- Takes pride in preparing healthy, nutritious meals.
- Understands the importance of food safety and hygiene.
- Is flexible and willing to support the wider service when required.




- Is passionate about engaging children in learning and cooking experiences.
- Hold a certificate three in early childhood education, or a willingness to obtain.

Essential Requirements

- Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (or willingness to obtain).
- National Child Safety Training.
- Current Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Registration.
- Current First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis qualifications (or willingness to obtain).
- Experience preparing meals for groups and managing dietary requirements.
- Child Protection Training.
- A commitment to working within the National Quality Framework and the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations.
- Wattle will pay for and provide all required training for the successful applicant.

Early childhood qualifications are highly regarded for applicants interested in the combined Cook & Educator role but are not essential for applicants seeking the Centre Cook position only.

Why Join Wattle?

- Supportive and welcoming team culture.
- Community‑based, not‑for‑profit organisation.
- Ongoing professional learning and development opportunities.
- The chance to make a meaningful difference in children's health, wellbeing and education every day.

Employment Details

- Position: Centre Cook & Educator (preferred) or Centre Cook (part‑time)
- Employment Type: Full‑time preferred (part‑time considered)
- Award: Children's Services Award 2010
- Location: Wattle Early Childhood Centre, Lyneham ACT

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📌 Centre Cook & Educator (Canberra)
🏢 Wattle Early Childhood Centre
📍 Canberra