Childcare Centre Cook/Chef

About the service:

Starfish Early Learning Centre is a well-established organisation of 17 years, with several services across Melbourne. Our Blackburn South centre opened in 2009 and is home to many long standing educators, and generations of families in the area. It has a proud history of maintaining beautiful gardens (including a thriving kitchen garden) and working collaboratively with the community.

We educate and care for children from 6 weeks through to kindergarten within our community. Our service employs people who are committed to Early Childhood Education, have a genuine love for children and those who are continually reflecting, learning and dedicated to improvement.

Statement of our Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing.

At Starfish ELC, children’s rights, best interests, health, safety, welfare and wellbeing are our top priority and paramount in every decision or action we take.  We will not tolerate harm or the risk of harm to children or young people, including anyone at our service subjecting a child to inappropriate conduct or discipline.

We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.

We value diversity, equity and inclusion and will not tolerate discriminatory practices or behaviour.  We actively work to listen to and empower children.  We do not tolerate racism.

We have policies and systems in place to protect children from abuse and are committed to regularly training and educating our educators, staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.

We take all allegations of abuse very seriously and respond to them consistently, in line with our policies and procedures.

We are committed to promoting cultural safety of Aboriginal children, cultural safety of children of Cultural and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

We are committed to critically reflecting on our practices, and collaborating with others to see different perspectives.

“In its planning, decision-making and operations Starfish ELC will

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;

3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children

4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;

5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;

6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;

7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;

8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;

9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and

10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.”

About the role:

Starfish Blackburn South is searching for a new cook/chef to join their dedicated team. This is a 5 day/week role, working 7 hour days (with a paid 10 minute break and unpaid 30 minute lunch break), starting anywhere from 7am-8am (some flexibility available). This role could suit someone who would like to arrange school pickups.

Your responsibilities:

• Managing the kitchen according to the food safety plan

• Ordering and maintaining stock

• Developing seasonal menus that meet the nutrition needs of children under 6 years old

• Cooking/preparing and serving morning tea and lunch, cooking preparing afternoon tea

• Keeping kitchen clean, tidy and hygienic

• Completing paperwork daily to meet regulatory requirements

• Working collaboratively with the educators to ensure the needs of the children are being met

• Cooking and preparing meals for children with allergies/anaphylaxis and other dietary requirements

Successful candidates will:

• Have a Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (attained within the last 3 years)

• Have experience cooking in a childcare setting

• Be open to feedback and learning

• Be willing to work as part of the team

• Have a current Employee Working with Children Check

• Have a current police check (within the last 6 months)

Have completed, or be willing to complete:

• Mandatory Reporting Training (Go to https://ecprotecttraining.education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) and select the Early Childhood course.)

• National Child Safety Training (create an account to access the training here: https://learning.education.gov.au/user_login)

Candidates should apply by emailing: ••••@starfishelc.com.au