About the role

As Chef at Fairhill Café, you play a key role in ensuring continuity, quality, and momentum across the kitchen. Independently running the kitchen on some days, especially busy during school holidays and peak trading periods, stepping into a lead role as required. You will deliver exceptional, healthy food inspired by Australian and French cuisines, with an emphasis on local, seasonal, and indigenous ingredients, within a vibrant, community-focused venue set in Queensland's original native botanical gardens.

Fairhill Gardens Café is a favourite among Sunshine Coast locals, known for its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful garden setting and fresh, delicious food.

We are looking for one full time chef and/or one/two part-time chefs to join our kitchen team. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced breakfast and brunch chef who enjoys greater autonomy than is often possible in a large kitchen.

You will work alongside our exceptional French chefs while confidently running the kitchen independently on some days, including during school holidays and peak trading periods. After training, you will step into relief, sous or lead responsibilities as required.

We are looking for someone calm, organised, energetic and industrious—someone who can poach the perfect egg, deliver a busy service with confidence and genuinely cares about the quality of every plate leaving the kitchen.

Fairhill is an established and growing venue . We need someone who can maintain the consistency and quality our customers expect while bringing creative flair, fresh ideas and a desire to help shape the next stage of our food offering.

Key responsibilities

- Prepare and deliver consistently high-quality food during service





- Independently run breakfast and lunch services after training

- Maintain excellent standards of presentation, portion control and efficiency

- Uphold food safety, hygiene and workplace compliance requirements

- Work closely with management on preparation systems, menus, service flow and planning

- Communicate clearly and respectfully to ensure smooth service

- Contribute to the calm yet fast, positive, hardworking kitchen culture

- Contribute ideas for seasonal dishes, specials and new dining experiences

- Support Fairhill’s whole-of-venue approach as a destination hospitality experience

About you

- You will ideally have:

- Demonstrated experience in a commercial breakfast, brunch or short-order kitchen

- The ability to work independently and confidently run a service when required

- Strong breakfast skills—including the ability to poach the perfect egg consistently

- An interest in fresh Australian food and French and Asia–Pacific flavours

- A passion for local produce, sustainability and paddock-to-plate cooking

- Working knowledge of HACCP, WHS and Australian food-safety requirements

- High standards of cleanliness, organisation, consistency and food quality

- A calm, capable and solutions-focused approach under pressure

- Clear and respectful communication with colleagues, management, suppliers and customers

- Creativity and imagination,



with an interest in helping us grow the business

This role would particularly suit an experienced breakfast or brunch chef who wants more autonomy, enjoys contributing ideas and would like to put their own stamp on much-loved venue

Ideally, you are looking for a long-term position; however, we may consider applicants available for a minimum of three months.

Benefits

- KPI-based performance bonuses

- Meals provided during shifts

- Team member discounts and access to Fairhill events

- Support for professional development and skills growth

- Good rates of pay and superannuation, of course

- Staff accommodation can be provided

About us

You'll be working with our exceptional French Chefs. Fairhill's Gardens Café is a bright, airy dining space nestled within the award-winning Fairhill Adventure Gardens, including Fairhill Native Botanical Gardens. Our kitchen showcases local and farm-grown produce, including pasture-raised pork and eggs from our farm, herbs from our gardens. Fairhill is the Sunshine Coast's farm-to-table and paddock-to-plate destination, serving breakfasts, lunches, pastries, including handmade savoury and sweet dishes inspired by Australian, French and Asia–Pacific flavours. We are keen to introduce spit roasting as part of outdoor cooking and dining experiences.

Fairhill Gardens is a multi-faceted botanical, hospitality, and visitor destination with a long-standing legacy of native plant conservation, environmental stewardship, and community connection.

As a farm and gardens, some roles are valid for WHV.

No sponsorships offered.

Daytime hours, no split shifts. Weekly pay. Accommodation available if required. Live the dream on the Sunshine Coast.

📌 Chef/qualified Cook Chef — Full-Time or Part-Time | Sunshine Coast (Ninderry)
🏢 Fairhill Gardens
📍 Ninderry