Job Description

Childcare Centre Cook

Reference Number: 11107

Applications close: 11:00pm, 13 April 2026.

Create healthy beginnings one meal at a time.

Are you an experienced Early Years cook who believes food is more than fuel? Do you take pride in creating vibrant, nutritious meals that nourish growing bodies and spark curiosity about healthy eating?

We’re seeking a passionate and qualified professional to join our welcoming team at Montgomery Park Children’s Centre in a permanent part-time role (32.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday). This is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact every single day - shaping lifelong healthy habits for children in their most important developmental years.

With a competitive salary aligned to Council Band 3 (starting at $36.48 per hour plus 12% superannuation, commensurate with experience), this role offers both professional satisfaction and excellent conditions within a supportive local government environment.

Why This Role Is Special

At Montgomery Park Children’s Centre, food is central to our philosophy of care. As our Childcare Centre Cook, you will:

• Design and prepare nutritionally balanced, seasonal and culturally inclusive menus
• Play a key role in supporting children’s health, development and wellbeing
• Build positive relationships with families through your passion for healthy eating
• Ensure strict compliance with dietary, allergy and food safety requirements
• Maintain the highest standards of food storage, handling and preparation
• Collaborate with our dedicated educators to create engaging food-based learning experiences
• Manage menu rotations, ordering and kitchen organisation with autonomy and creativity

This is more than a kitchen role; you are an integral part of the Centre’s community.

What We’re Looking For

We are keen to hear from experienced Early Years cooks who bring:

• Certificate III (or higher) in Commercial Cookery (desirable)
• Demonstrated experience in menu planning and food preparation in an Early Years or children’s service setting
• Food Safety Supervisor Certificate and/or Food Handling Certificate
• Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations for the Early Childhood Sector Training
• National Child Safety training (Modules 1 & 2)
• Current and valid:
  • Working with Children Check
  • First Aid Level 2
  • Anaphylaxis Management
  • Emergency Asthma Management

Experience within children’s services will be highly regarded.

Join a Council That Values You

At Moonee Valley City Council, you’ll be supported by a collaborative team, strong safety standards and a culture that values professionalism, inclusion and community impact.

If you’re ready to bring your culinary expertise into a rewarding environment where your work truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Click ‘Apply Now’ and submit your application through our online system in line with the Moonee Valley City Council Application Guide.

Please attach your resume and a tailored cover letter. Applications that do not meet these requirements may not be considered.

For further information, view the or contact Alisha Dudderidge Acting Childcare Centre Coordinator on 03 9243 1527.

Moonee Valley is a great place to live, work and visit. We are a local government within the north-west metropolitan area of Melbourne, providing a range of services to some 130,000 residents and over 10,000 businesses.

Our 1,200 employees bring their differing backgrounds, experiences and unique perspectives to our collaborative environment, and are supported to share ideas, initiatives and talent, making a positive impact on our community for now and in the future.

Some of the great benefits of working at Moonee Valley City Council are flexible working conditions, learning and development opportunities, supportive leadership and various staff benefits.

Our Council offices are located in the heart of our vibrant, diverse community with great food, cafes and green spaces nearby. We have excellent public transport at our doorstep as well as cycling access for our employees.

At Moonee Valley City Council, we pride ourselves on having job opportunities which make a real difference in the community and having a workplace which values everyone’s unique skills and attributes.

Our Culture of Inclusion

If you are interested in the role but feel you may not meet the full range of selection criteria, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your experience and application for this position.

We don’t just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our services and our community. With a focus on inclusion, accessibility and flexibility, we'll support you at every stage of your career. We recognise the importance of balance and embrace work agility, understanding that this means different things to each and every one of our employees.

Moonee Valley City Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Child Safe employer and we value diversity and encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, people of any age or gender, people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and/or queer (LGBTIQA+) and people with disability. If you have a reasonable adjustment, support or access requirement, we encourage you to let us know through your application or email H2@mvcc.vic.gov.au or call 9243 1122.