The role of a childcare centre cook is far more than just preparing meals. Cooks get to influence children's daily nutrition by crafting menus catering to the unique dietary needs of each child.

Childcare centre cooks play an important role in nurturing children through wholesome nutrition, fostering healthy eating habits and making sure each child gets the essential nutrients for growth and development.



Below we’ve broken down the requirements from Expect A Star as well as those across the different states and territories in Australia. 

Expect A Star’s cook requirements

• Food handling/safety certificate: It’s mandatory for all cooks to have sufficient knowledge. Department of Health requirements state a certificate is not needed but sufficient knowledge is.
• Working With Children Check: mandatory 
• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or Certificate III in menu planning, nutrition and food handling: Preferred but not essential 
• Experience cooking in a childcare or aged care setting: Preferred but not essential

Navigating requirements across states and territories: a recipe for compliance

Nationally, cooks are typically required to hold a food handling certificate and some cooks are required to hold a food safety supervisor certificate. This new requirement was bought in from December 2023. 

The specific requirements between states and territories is important as they can vary. Below we’ve listed the essential ingredients:

Australian Capital Territory

Staff who prepare or supervise food handling must have skills and knowledge of current food safety and hygiene practices.

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

There is no current requirement for qualifications for childcare centre cooks.

Western Australia

Those working as a childcare centre chef in Western Australia are required to hold a certificate in food handling and hygiene and a certificate in food nutrition from an approved RTO.