Childcare Centre Chef / Cook – Mona Vale | Monday to Friday

Kinley Early Learning | Mona Vale, Northern Beaches NSW

Join Our Kinley Village!

At Kinley Early Learning, we believe every child deserves a village - a place where they feel safe, nurtured, valued and supported to thrive.

We are looking for an experienced, passionate and organised Childcare Centre Chef / Cook to join our Mona Vale team.

We believe nutritious, freshly prepared meals are an essential part of children's health, wellbeing and development. We are seeking someone who genuinely enjoys cooking for young children, understands their nutritional needs and takes pride in creating healthy, delicious meals that children love.

This is a wonderful prospect to take ownership of our centre kitchen and become a valued member of our Kinley village.

About the Role

As our Centre Chef / Cook, you will be responsible for planning, preparing and serving fresh, nutritious and balanced meals for children aged 0–5 years.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Planning and preparing nutritious, varied and age-appropriate meals, including morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

- Developing rotating seasonal menus that meet children's nutritional needs and align with Australian Dietary Guidelines.

- Safely managing food allergies, anaphylaxis, intolerances and individual dietary requirements, including strict cross-contamination prevention procedures.

- Catering for cultural, religious and other dietary preferences.

- Maintaining accurate allergy records, dietary information, food labelling and kitchen documentation.

- Managing food ordering, stock control, kitchen budgets and minimising food waste.





- Ensuring the kitchen consistently meets food safety, hygiene and regulatory requirements.

- Maintaining a clean, safe and well-organised kitchen.

- Collaborating with educators and centre leadership to promote healthy eating and positive mealtime experiences.

- Contributing creative menu ideas and encouraging children's interest in food and nutrition.

About You

We are seeking someone who is confident managing a busy childcare kitchen, has excellent attention to detail and understands the importance of food safety in an early childhood environment.

To be successful, you will have:

- Previous experience cooking in an early childhood education and care setting, highly preferred.

- Demonstrated experience in menu planning and preparing nutritious meals for children aged 0–5 years.

- Strong knowledge and practical experience in managing food allergies, anaphylaxis and special dietary requirements.

- A sound understanding of children's nutritional needs and appropriate portion sizes.

- Knowledge of food safety standards, safe food handling, hygiene and allergen management.

- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a kitchen independently.

- Experience with food ordering, stock management and working within a budget.





- A positive attitude and a genuine passion for supporting children's health and wellbeing.

- Relevant food safety qualifications or training appropriate to the position.

- A current NSW Working With Children Check, or willingness to obtain one.

A qualification in commercial cookery or equivalent relevant experience will be highly regarded.

Why Join Kinley Early Learning?

At Kinley, we believe our educators and team members are the heart of our village. We are committed to creating a supportive, respectful and welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued.

What we offer:

- Monday-to-Friday daytime hours — no evenings or weekends.

- A welcoming, family-owned and operated early learning environment.

- Supportive and approachable leadership.

- The opportunity to take ownership of your kitchen and contribute your own ideas.

- A strong commitment to child safety, wellbeing and high-quality care.

- A positive team culture built on genuine relationships, respect and collaboration.

- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in children's lives every day.

Become Part of Our Village

At Kinley Early Learning, every role matters.

Our Centre Chef / Cook plays an important part in creating a safe, nurturing environment where children can develop healthy eating habits and enjoy positive experiences around food.

If you are an experienced childcare cook who is passionate about children's nutrition, takes food safety seriously and would love to be part of a supportive early learning community, we would love to hear from you!

Apply now and join our Kinley village.

Kinley Early Learning — Every child deserves a village.

📌 Childcare Chef/Cook - Monday-Friday (Mona Vale)
🏢 Kinley Early Learning
📍 Mona Vale