Cook/Chef | 360 Early Education Macquarie Park

Part-time Permanent Associate

Description

Chef/Cook (360 Early Education Macquarie Park) | Part-time

Be the celebrity chef our children and families rave about.

The first five years shape a lifetime; and what children eat in those years might shape their attitudes towards food for good. At 360 Early Education, it’s where we set children up with a genuine love of good, nourishing food. Families will often stop for a chat, and you will get to know each child as you actively participate in meal service in our purpose built dining spaces. We’re looking for a qualified Chef who takes that as seriously as we do.

Our commitment to child safety

The safety, rights and wellbeing of every child in our care is our paramount priority; above all else.

360 Early Education is a Child Safe Organisation. We implement the Child Safe Standards under the NSW Child Protected Scheme and expect every member of our team, including our kitchen team, to actively uphold them. We have zero tolerance for child endangerment or abuse. All team members are required to read, sign and uphold our Child Safe Code of Conduct as a condition of employment.

If this commitment resonates with how you already think and work, you might be a great fit for our team.

About this role

360 Early Education is seeking a passionate and qualified Cook or Chef to take ownership of our service kitchen. This is a hands‑on cooking role focused on preparing fresh, wholesome and nutritious meals daily for the children in our care.

You will be responsible for preparing meals from scratch, maintaining a clean and organised kitchen, and ensuring every meal is prepared to a high standard.



Your role is an important part of supporting children's health, wellbeing and development through the food they eat. Our menus celebrate food diversity and prioritise fresh, high‑quality ingredients, with a strong focus on seasonality, variety and nutrition. You will have access to a budget that supports quality ingredients and enables you to prepare meals that are both nutritious and enjoyable. We are looking for someone who takes pride in their cooking, understands the importance of food safety and hygiene, and is passionate about providing children with delicious, balanced meals every day.

Who we are

We’re a family‑owned, community‑connected early education provider that has exceeded the

National Quality Standard for 13 consecutive years, putting us in the top 5% of private Long Day Care providers nationally.

What makes 360 different isn’t a policy. It’s how we think about early childhood, and food is part of that:

- Our THRIVE Program develops executive function, self‑regulation and social skills from birth, grounded in research, driven by relationships
- Children eat fresh, made‑from‑scratch meals every day, mealtimes are part of the learning environment, not separate from it
- Our children go to bush school, swim school, and the Australian Museum, and work with visiting artists,



scientists and performers through our Creative Arts and STEM programs. You might be cooking gourmet meals, or packing sandwiches for a trip to the zoo.
- You’ll have the equipment and the budget to cook properly
- We have university and sector partnerships that bring new ideas through the door regularly

“360 genuinely cares about the wellbeing of children, their families and their employees. One thing is for certain — you will always learn.” — Remi Sallonsonet, Room Leader

What you’ll actually do

As our Chef, you run the kitchen and own the food. Day to day, you’ll:

Menu design and cooking

- Design, write and rotate the service menu: fresh, seasonal, varied and genuinely appealing to young children, including fussy eaters
- Ensure menus align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Get Up & Grow: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood, providing the recommended share of children’s daily nutritional needs while in care
- Be open to having your menu cycle and recipes independently assessed by Nutrition Australia or a qualified dietitian, and to refining them based on that feedback
- Cook all meals and snacks fresh on‑site each day, plating to a high standard
- Display the current menu for families and communicate any changes clearly

Dietary needs, allergens and safety

- Manage and accommodate allergies, intolerances, anaphylaxis and cultural or religious dietary requirements: maintaining accurate, up‑to‑date records for every child
- Prepare and plate meals for children with anaphylaxis personally, in line with our policy and best practice
- Maintain the service’s HACCP‑based food safety program and comply with the

📌 Cook/Chef | 360 Early Education Macquarie Park (Australia)
🏢 360 Early Education
📍 Australia