Position
Description

Very Special Kids believes that all children and young people have the right to
quality of life, no matter how long or short their life may be.

Position Title: Commercial Cook

Location: Malvern

Department Hospice

Reporting To: Hospice Manager

Main Purpose of

Position:
Prepare, coordinate, and cook nutritious balanced meals that meet the

individual dietary needs of the children and young people who access the

service. This includes preparing family-style meals and specialised

meals for children with complex medical and feeding requirements, such

as texture-modified diets or PEG feeding. The Cook ensures all food is

prepared safely, sensitively, and in alignment with each child’s clinical

and cultural needs.

Number of

Direct Reports

0

Decision Making

Authority

As per Very Special Kids’ Delegation of Authority

Key

Relationships
Internal:

- Hospice Manager

- Catering/volunteer assistants

- Admissions Coordinator

- Intake Coordinator

- Hospice and Family Support Team

External:

- Very Special Kids children, young people, and families

- Suppliers of perishable and non-perishable goods

Key Selection

Criteria

Qualifications/ Education Training and Work Experience.

- Minimum Tertiary qualifications in commercial cookery or equivalent

required

- Previous experience as a commercial cook in a health care, disability,

childcare, age care, or similar setting involving specialist dietary

preparation.

- Food Safety Certified

- First Aid Certificate (desirable)

Knowledge and Skills

vsk.org.au

- Extensive knowledge and certificates in safe food handling

- Proven experience of creating and developing meal plans

- Providing balanced nutritious meals within a budget

- Sourcing and ordering fresh produce to provide balanced nutritious

meals

- Knowledge and understanding of all catering regulations such as

allergens, food safety, fire regulations and health and safety

- Understanding of the Dietary Guidelines for Australia and for children

and young people

Personal Attributes

- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both written and

verbal, and a proven track record in engaging with consumers.

- Ability to work well under pressure and be adaptable to changing

priorities and environment.

- Growth mindset with the ability to actively listen, process feedback,

reflect, learn and help others learn

- Demonstrated high levels of initiative and self-actualisation

- Strong values connection with the Very Special Kids values and

genuine, empathetic regard for people

Guiding Principles

- We offer compassionate, individualised care for families across their

entire journey

- Our approach is forward thinking, positive and authentic

- We collaborate to deliver the best support for families





- We are purpose driven and act with integrity, respect and kindness

Key Areas of Responsibility

Collaboration Key Performance Indicators

- Work collaboratively with the hospice leadership

team, children and young people and their families

to prepare individualised meal plans.

- Collaborate closely with nursing

and admissions/intake team to

understand each child’s

nutritional and texture

requirements (e.g. pureed diets,

PEG feeding)

- Children and young people are

provided with a creative and

nutritious meal plan that meets

their dietary needs

Menu planning Key Performance Indicators

- Review and develop menus daily that include

family meals and adhere to paediatric dietary

guidelines and in accordance to activity in the

house and modify accordingly

- Adapt and be able to make

relevant changes to meal plans

within time constraints

- Maintain a record of meal plans

and feeding protocols for each

child

vsk.org.au

- Ensure meals are prepared to meet different

cultural and religious requirements as necessary

- Provide meals that meet the

cultural needs of the children

and young people

Kitchen Operations Key Performance Indicators

- Prepare weekly orders for perishable and non-

perishable foods in line with hospice manager’s

authorisation

- Very Special Kids House is fully

stocked to cater for children and

young people's dietary needs at

all times.

- Prepare meals in accordance

with allergy, texture and

swallowing guidelines as

prescribed.

- Coordinate all meal preparation required when on

duty and ensure children and young people’s

meals are catered for on days off

- Cook and prepare snacks, lunch

and dinner that are individual to

the child/young person's meal

plan

- Provide catering support for small-scale events

and gatherings hosted by Very Special Kids,

ensuring meals/refreshments are provided

- Small scale catering provided to

events such as morning or

afternoon teas

- Assume responsibility for health and safety in the

kitchen

- Act as the Food Safety

Supervisor for Very Special Kids

- Ensure Very Special Kids is

compliant with its Food Safety

Program requirements and

records are kept up to date for

auditing and inspections.

- Maintain a high standard of

cleanliness and hygiene in the

kitchen at all times.

- Ensure safe storage, labelling,

and segregation of food

prepared.

- Compliance with food safety

requirements including allergen





management, and infection

control standards maintained

- Provide leadership and guidance to volunteers

when they are available ensuring they feel

supported, valued and confident in their role.

- Foster a positive and inclusive

team environment enhancing

the volunteer experience.

Other

- The incumbent will be expected to undertake other adhoc appropriate duties as required

for the effective operation of the Very Special Kids House in supporting our Very Special

Children

vsk.org.au

Quality, Safety, and Improvement

Very Special Kids Employees have a responsibility and accountability to contribute to the

organisation’s commitment to Quality, Safety, and Improvement by:

- Acting in accordance and complying with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and

procedures

- Identifying risks, reporting, and being actively involved in risk mitigation strategies

- Participating in and actively contributing to quality improvement programs

- Complying with the requirements of the National Safety & Quality Health Service

Standards

- Complying with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards

- Complying with the principles of Patient and Family Centred Care that relate to this

position

- Understanding and upholding the Child Safety Standards and Child Safety and Wellbeing

Framework and associated requirements

Conditions of Service

Hours Fixed-term part time from mid-October 2026 to end of June 2027

(Approx 8 months)

22.5 hours/ 3 days per week required

Working days are Wednesday to Friday, with alternate Weekend

work required occasionally on Saturday.

Position may require occasional out of hours work.

$39.20 base rate per hour +super +salary packaging

Other Victorian Driver’s License

Salary Package Salary packaging available as Not for profit organisation as per

Charity, Aged Care and Disability Services - $15,900 + $2,650

(Meal Entertainment) = $18,550

Tenure Fixed-term part-time – Maternity Leave Replacement

As per contract ie; six months probationary period

General Employment with Very Special Kids is subject to a satisfactory

Police Check, a Working with Children Check and evidence of up-to-

date COVID vaccination.

Clinical Services staff are also required to provide evidence to

demonstrate vaccination against COVID-19 and seasonal flu

vaccinations.

Privacy Statement: Personal Information may be collected and stored for the purpose

of recruitment and selection. The information will only be used and disclosed for the

vsk.org.au

primary purpose of its collection. Some exceptions exist. These may be obtained from

the Privacy Officer.

Approvals:

Created by: Hospice Manager

Approved by: General Manager People & Culture

Date of Last update: September 2026

📌 Commercial cook (Malvern)
🏢 Very Special Kids
📍 Malvern