We are seeking an organised and hands-on Cook and Service Lead to join our Specialist Community Services (SCS) team at the Village in Woodbridge. Reporting to the Manager, Mental Health Service, this is an opportunity to support people with a lived experience of severe and enduring mental illness, many of whom also have experiences of homelessness, to rebuild their lives through a recovery-based programs. This service offers high support, shared house and independent living options with support from a professional team of support staff.

For more information on these services, please visit the Vinnies WA website here.

About the role

The Cook and Service Lead is responsible for the delivery and coordination of high-quality food and housekeeping services across Mental Health programs. The role ensures services are nutritionally appropriate, safe, culturally inclusive, and responsive to consumer needs while providing leadership, coordination, and supervision of service staff and volunteers.

- Permanent Full-time
- Working Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm
- Requirement to work all Public Holidays

Key responsibilities

- Lead the delivery of food services by planning nutritious, seasonal menus, preparing meals and ensuring dietary, cultural and individual consumer needs are met.
- Oversee food safety, stock management and kitchen operations, including ordering, storage, catering and compliance with relevant standards.
- Provide leadership, supervision and support to Service Staff and Kitchen Hand Volunteers to ensure effective service delivery.
- Manage housekeeping and food services operations, including budgets, rostering, resources, stock control and equipment maintenance.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, infection control and risk management across all service areas while supporting continuous service improvement.
- Engage with consumers using trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and person-centred approaches, supporting skill development and therapeutic activities.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, service outcomes and organisational reporting through data collection, feedback and quality improvement activities.
- Participate in professional development,



reflective practice and mandatory training to maintain and enhance skills and knowledge.
- Ensure compliance with organisational policies, procedures, legislation, food safety requirements and service standards.
- Promote a safe workplace by following WHS requirements, identifying and reporting hazards and incidents, and participating in safety training and drills.
- Support a culture of safety, risk management and wellbeing for consumers, staff, volunteers and visitors.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with consumers, families, colleagues, volunteers and external stakeholders through respectful and professional engagement.
- Represent the organisation in a manner that reflects the Society's Mission, Vision and Values and promotes inclusive, culturally safe practices.

About you

You are a hands-on leader with experience in food services, housekeeping and staff supervision. You will have solid knowledge of food safety, WHS and infection control requirements, with the ability to manage daily operations, coordinate staff and deliver high-quality services. A proactive approach, strong communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with consumers, colleagues and stakeholders are essential, along with a commitment to person-centred service delivery and continuous improvement. Furthermore you will have:

Demonstrated knowledge and experience in:

- supervising, mentoring and providing guidance to staff (including managing rosters)
- working in a residential or community-based service
- menu planning, including catering for diverse dietary, cultural, and nutritional requirements
- application of Australian food safety requirements
- Current food safety supervisor certification

Working for Vinnies WA

At Vinnies WA, you’ll be part of an organisation where people matter - both the community we support and the teams that make it all possible.



Our values are at the heart of our Society, anyone who comes into contact with us is better for it, our employees are supported to grow and nurture their capacity for leadership and resilience and hold mission at our core.

This is an prospect to be part of an organisation that makes a positive difference to the lives of thousands of vulnerable West Australians, through a range of person-centred services and programs, made possible by the revenue raised through our Vinnies shops, generous donations, fundraising events and grants, and over 3,500 dedicated employees, volunteers and members.

More than this, as a not for profit, Vinnies WA are able to offer our employees:

- Generous tax-reducing salary packaging benefits (F/T & P/T employees only)
- Leave Loading + Birthday leave benefit (F/T & P/T employees only)
- 15% team member discount card to use in our retail shops

Screening & Application Process

At Vinnies WA, we are committed to providing a safe and engaging environment for children and vulnerable people to ensure that their rights, needs and interests are met and that they are protected from harm and abuse. As such, we ensure that our preferred candidates are appropriately screened prior to any offer of employment, to make sure that the right people are in the right roles. Screening will consist of Police Criminal History Check, Legal right to work in Australia and Working with Children Check (if required). If you are passionate about our “good works” and are excited for the opportunity to represent Vinnies WA, we would love to receive your application through SEEK (hit “apply now”). Please provide:

- Current resume with details of 2 professional referees; and
- Cover letter (limited to 2 pages) addressed to Sally McVicar, outlining:

- your suitability for the role; and
- your motivation for applying

We are committed to creating a workforce that is as diverse as our Society. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, orientations and backgrounds. Applications will be reviewed as received. No recruitment agencies please.

📌 Cook & Service Lead (Woodbridge)
🏢 Vinnies WA
📍 Woodbridge