Cook | Ipswich Region

Nourish Young Minds Through Healthy Food

Are you passionate about preparing nutritious meals and creating positive food experiences for children? Join Affinity Education as a Centre Cook and play an important role in supporting children's growth, wellbeing, and lifelong healthy eating habits.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and reliable Cook to support our centres across the Ipswich region. This is a rewarding opportunity to combine your love of cooking with a meaningful career in early childhood education, where every meal you prepare helps children thrive.

About the Role

As our Centre Cook, you will be responsible for planning and preparing fresh, nutritious meals and snacks that meet the dietary needs of children from infancy through to kindergarten.

You'll be supported by a national network of experienced centre cooks who regularly share recipes, ideas, and best practices. You'll also have access to the Feed Australia Program, an creative tool designed to help you create healthy, budget-friendly menus that support children's growth and development.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Preparing nutritious meals and snacks in line with nutrition and dietary guidelines
- Planning, implementing, and reviewing seasonal menus
- Managing food orders, stock levels, and kitchen budgets
- Maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen compliance
- Catering for allergies, cultural requirements, and individual dietary needs
- Creating positive food experiences and helping children develop healthy eating habits
- Participating in centre events that promote nutrition, wellbeing, and family engagement

About You

You are an organised and capable cook who enjoys creating healthy meals and understands the important role nutrition plays in early childhood development.

You'll bring:

- Experience preparing meals in a commercial, childcare, healthcare, aged care, or high-volume environment
- Strong knowledge of food safety and hygiene requirements
- Excellent time management and organisational skills




- Experience managing orders, stock control, and kitchen budgets
- A genuine passion for children's health and wellbeing
- The ability to work independently while contributing to a positive team culture

Essential Requirements

- Current Food Safety Supervisor and Food Handling qualifications
- Current First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
- Reliable transport and flexibility to support centres across the Ipswich region
- Experience working in an early childhood setting (highly regarded)
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent qualification (desirable)

Why Affinity Education?

At Affinity Education, we're dedicated to inspiring and nurturing individuals to reach their full potential. We believe every child deserves the very best start in life, and every team member deserves opportunities to grow, develop, and succeed.

Affinity Advantages

- Permanent role with one of Australia's largest early education providers
- 50% discount on childcare fees from your first day
- 30% discount on Goodlife Health Clubs and Fitness First memberships
- Access to professional development and career growth opportunities
- Fully funded leadership and development programs through the Affinity Learning Academy
- Ongoing support from our experienced Operations, Education, and Quality teams
- Internal career pathways, with the majority of leadership appointments promoted from within
- Scholarships available for further education and career development
- Bupa health and insurance benefits

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Affinity Education is committed to safeguarding children and fostering environments where every child feels safe, respected, and supported. We have a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and harmful behaviours and expect all team members to share our commitment to child safety and wellbeing.

LOVE. LEARN. GROW.

If you're ready to bring your passion for healthy cooking to a role where you can make a genuine difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now and help nourish the next generation across our Ipswich services.

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📌 Cook (Brisbane)
🏢 Affinity Education Group
📍 Brisbane