Complete a 3-year Apprenticeship in our world-renowned kitchen

In house training & exposure to an extensive range of culinary techniques

Looking for 1st year Apprentices

About the opportunity:

VCET is dedicated to developing future pastry talent. Our Apprenticeship Program offers the opportunity for 1 Pastry apprentice to complete a three-year apprenticeship in our award-winning kitchen. You’ll be trained and mentored by some of Australia’s finest pastry chefs, gaining invaluable hands‑on experience in a high‑calibre professional setting.

There is also an opportunity to do a school based apprenticeship if desired to start your apprenticeship while in later years of secondary education. A school based apprenticeship through high school is a form of Vocational Education and Training (VET)

As a VCET Apprentice, you will be provided extensive and varied practical training in‑house. Our in‑house training will expose you to an extensive range of culinary techniques, both practical and theory based.

The kitchen team is made up of some of the brightest and skilled culinary experts from around the world, who serve up a range of exciting and creative dishes.

No matter the event size or scale, at MCEC it all comes back to one straightforward philosophy – made fresh, in‑house, by hand.

In this role you will also be required to:

During your Apprenticeship you will be exposed to both current and developing culinary trends, using the latest equipment, systems, and technology available in the industry.

At the end of your Apprenticeship, you will hold a qualification that will enable you to continue your professional culinary career.

An Apprenticeship in Cookery requires a commitment of three years.



You may obtain credits from previous studies, reducing the study requirements of your Apprenticeship. As an Apprentice you will be employed full‑time by VCET.

You should expect to work five (5) shifts a week, with two (2) days off. Shift hours are typically 7.6 hours in duration.

When you are completing your formal training, you will be expected to attend classes one (1) day a week and work four (4) shifts at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) each week.

Your shifts will be on a roster basis. For example, you could be working weekdays or weekends, depending on MCEC event requirements and the roster schedule.

Shifts will typically be either:

Day shifts - with early morning start times (some shifts may start very early depending on the event we are catering to).

Afternoon shifts – starting later in the day and finishing in the evening.

You should expect to be rostered onto shifts during the week and on weekends.

Interview Process

Candidates may be contacted for interviews prior to advertisement closure.

Interviews for successful candidates will commence November/December 2026 once applications are closed.

Start date for successful applicants will be Monday 1st February, 2027

What's for you?

Flexible hours and uniform provided & cleaned on‑site.

Exclusive discounts: Parking, food, childcare,



healthcare and many more

Subsidised meals catered by our Chefs each day

Keep cup incentive with an exclusive staff coffee deal at our Cafés.

An iconic venue where no day is the same.

And so much more

We care about more than just your job title. Our well‑being initiatives are here to support you inside and outside of work.

Confidential counselling through our Employee Assistance Program.

Discounted gym and pool access with Fitness Passport.

Financial coaching through Money Assist, because your future is worth investing in.

Who is VCET?

Victorian Convention and Exhibition Trust (VCET) manages and operates Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and the upcoming Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.

VCET oversees the strategic direction and operational management of both venues, ensuring they deliver world‑class events and experiences. Committed to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, MCET plays a pivotal role in positioning Victoria as a leading global destination for conferences, exhibitions, and events.

Built on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River), Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Narrm, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to Elders of all First Nations communities that visit MCEC. We recognise the ongoing significance of the Birrarung to Traditional Owners as a life source and a meeting place for millennia and seek to honour this long‑standing tradition of building community and exchanging ideas on these lands.

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📌 Savoury Chef Apprentice 2027 (Melbourne)
🏢 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
📍 Melbourne