Chef — Cloudberry Early Learning Centre
About Cloudberry ELC
Cloudberry Early Learning Centre is committed to providing children with exceptional care, meaningful learning experiences and a strong foundation for lifelong wellbeing. Food is an important part of this commitment.
We believe children deserve nutritious, thoughtfully prepared food that is varied, visually appealing and enjoyable. Our kitchen is not simply responsible for feeding children—it helps develop their curiosity, confidence and positive relationship with food.
About the Role
Cloudberry ELC is seeking a skilled, creative and dedicated Chef to plan, prepare and present nutritious meals for children aged six weeks to six years.
The successful candidate will combine excellent culinary skills with a thorough understanding of food safety, allergens, dietary requirements and early-childhood nutrition. They will take pride in creating menus that are balanced, interesting and appropriate for each stage of a child's development.
We are not looking for someone content to repeat the same basic meals every week. We want a Chef who brings imagination to the kitchen, introduces children to diverse flavours and ingredients, and understands that healthy children's food can still be exciting, beautiful and delicious.
Key Responsibilities
Menu Planning and Food Preparation
Design and maintain creative, nutritionally balanced seasonal menus for children aged six weeks to six years.
Prepare morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and any other required meals or snacks.
Adapt meals to suit infants and children at different developmental stages, including appropriate textures, serving sizes and methods of preparation.
Provide genuine variety in ingredients, flavours, cuisines and presentation.
Ensure menus meet applicable nutritional guidelines and the needs of children attending the centre.
Prepare food with care, consistency and attention to presentation.
Regularly review and improve menus based on feedback, seasonal availability, nutritional value and children's engagement with the food.
Support positive food education by helping children become familiar with new ingredients, flavours and cuisines.
Allergens and Dietary Requirements
Maintain a thorough understanding of food allergens, intolerances, cultural requirements, medical dietary needs and family preferences.
Prepare safe and appropriate alternatives without making children with dietary requirements feel excluded.
Follow individual dietary management plans and ensure all food is correctly identified, prepared, stored and served.
Maintain strict controls to prevent cross-contact and cross-contamination.
Communicate clearly with educators, management and families regarding dietary requirements and menu changes.
Keep accurate, current records of allergies and dietary requirements.
Food Safety and Compliance
Maintain the highest standards of food safety, personal hygiene and workplace safety.
Ensure the kitchen, equipment,



storage areas and food-preparation surfaces are kept clean, organised and compliant.
Complete required temperature checks, cleaning schedules, food-safety records and compliance documentation accurately and on time.
Store, label, rotate and dispose of food safely and appropriately.
Work collaboratively with local councils, environmental health officers, food authorities and other regulators.
Prepare for and participate professionally in inspections and compliance reviews.
Promptly identify, report and address food-safety or workplace-safety risks.
Remain informed about relevant food-safety requirements, regulations and industry practices.
Kitchen and Cost Management
Manage food purchasing and cost of goods without compromising quality, nutrition or variety.
Develop menus that balance creativity and quality with responsible cost management.
Order ingredients and supplies according to enrolments, attendance and menu requirements.
Maintain appropriate stock levels and conduct regular inventory checks.
Build productive relationships with suppliers and source fresh, high-quality and seasonal ingredients where practical.
Minimise waste through careful planning, portion control, stock rotation and responsible use of ingredients.
Monitor kitchen expenditure and provide management with accurate information when requested.
Maintain kitchen equipment and report maintenance or replacement needs promptly.
Collaboration and Communication
Work closely with the Centre Director, educators and other team members.
Communicate menu information clearly and provide timely advice about substitutions or changes.
Listen constructively to feedback from children, families, educators and management.
Contribute ideas to centre events, celebrations, cooking experiences and food-education activities.
Support an inclusive environment that respects each child's culture, identity and individual needs.
Demonstrate professionalism, reliability and respect in all workplace interactions.
Our Food Philosophy
At Cloudberry ELC, we believe food should nourish the whole child.
Meals should be fresh, balanced and developmentally appropriate, but they should also invite curiosity and enjoyment. Children deserve more than repetitive or purely functional food. They should experience different colours, textures, ingredients and cultural influences in ways that are safe and accessible.
We believe thoughtful presentation communicates care. Even straightforward meals should be prepared with pride and served in a way that makes children feel valued.




Our Chef will be expected to understand, contribute to and actively demonstrate this philosophy. We also want the successful candidate to bring a considered food philosophy of their own and explain how it influences their menus, ingredient choices and approach to feeding young children.
Skills and Attributes
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Strong commercial cooking and kitchen-management skills.
Creativity and enthusiasm for developing diverse children's menus.
Detailed knowledge of food safety, allergens and dietary requirements.
An understanding of nutrition and age-appropriate food preparation for infants and young children.
Excellent organisation, time-management and forward-planning skills.
Strong cost control, purchasing and inventory-management capabilities.
Care and pride in the quality and presentation of every meal.
The ability to work independently while remaining a collaborative member of the centre team.
Clear, respectful and professional communication.
Reliability, attention to detail and personal accountability.
A genuine commitment to children's health, safety and wellbeing.
A willingness to continually improve menus, systems and kitchen practices.
Qualifications and Requirements
Applicants should hold or be willing to obtain, as applicable:
A recognised commercial cookery qualification or equivalent demonstrated experience.
Current food-safety and food-handling certifications required for the position.
Food Safety Supervisor certification.
A current Working with Children Check.
Evidence of eligibility to work in Australia.
Any additional training or clearances required under applicable early-childhood, food-safety or workplace legislation.
Experience working in an early learning service, school, healthcare environment or another setting involving allergies and specialised dietary requirements will be highly regarded.
Child Safety
Cloudberry ELC is committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for child abuse or harm.
The Chef is expected to contribute to a child-safe culture, follow the centre's Child Safe policies and Code of Conduct, maintain appropriate professional boundaries, and promptly report any child-safety concern in accordance with Cloudberry ELC procedures and applicable legal obligations.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means:
Children receive safe, nutritious and appealing meals every day.
Allergies and dietary requirements are managed accurately and consistently.
Menus are creative, varied and appropriate for children's developmental needs.
The kitchen remains organised, hygienic and inspection-ready.
Food costs and waste are managed responsibly.
Records are complete, current and accurate.
Children are encouraged to explore food and develop positive eating habits.
Families and educators have confidence in the care, professionalism and quality behind every meal.
#J-*****-Ljbffr

📌 Centre Chef (Melbourne)
🏢 Cloudberry ELC
📍 Melbourne