Chef Courses
A Chef plans menus, prepares meals, manages kitchen staff, and ensures quality, working in restaurants, cafés, or catering with diverse dietary needs.
AI Exposure
Low
Core skills such as social intelligence and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).
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How do I become a Chef
Get qualified to work as a Chef with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
SIT30821
Duration
3 months - 4 years
Study mode
Apprenticeship, Blended, On Campus, Online, RPL, Traineeship
Become a trade cook with the SIT30821 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. This nationally recognised qualification will teach you how to safely prepare and cook a range of contemporary dishes including meats and poultry, seafoods, fruit and vegetables, cakes and breads, desserts, soups, and sauces. Even better you’ll learn how to work efficiently in the back-of-house and can specialise in either contemporary cooking and catering or Asian cookery. Enquire now for the list of study units, specialisation ...
Career opportunities
Duration
3 months - 4 years
Study mode
Apprenticeship, Blended, On Campus, Online, RPL, Traineeship
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SITSS00069
Duration
Half day - 6 months
Study mode
Blended, Distance, On Campus, Online, Traineeship
Do you work in hospitality food and beverage and need the skills to maintain the organisation’s food safety program? The SITSS00069 Food Safety Supervision Skill Set is a nationally recognised mini-course that will teach you how to keep food safe for human consumption during preparation, storage, display, and service. You’ll also learn safe food handling practices that comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The course also covers: food disposal, single use items, temperature controlled...
Career opportunities
Duration
Half day - 6 months
Study mode
Blended, Distance, On Campus, Online, Traineeship
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HLTSS00061
Study mode
Blended, Distance, Online
The HLTSS00061 Food Safety Supervision Skill Set – For Community Services and Health Industries provides a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. It enables employment in hospital, aged care, and childcare sectors, aligning with National Food Standard 3.2.2A. This skill set equips individuals to prevent, identify, and manage food handling hazards in health or community services settings. It includes supervisory responsibilities to ensure food safety compliance within organisational food safety pro...
Career opportunities
Study mode
Blended, Distance, Online
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SIT40821
Duration
6 months - 21 months
Study mode
Blended, Traineeship
The SIT40821 Certificate IV in Asian Cookery prepares commercial cooks for supervisory roles in kitchens specialising in Asian cuisine. Graduates operate independently or with limited guidance and use discretion to solve non-routine problems. This qualification offers pathways to work in restaurants, hotels, clubs, pubs, and cafés where Asian food is prepared and served. Skills are applied in accordance with relevant legislation, Australian standards, and industry codes of practice.
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Career opportunities
Duration
6 months - 21 months
Study mode
Blended, Traineeship
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Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Chef.
Common questions
How much does a Chef earn?
In Australia, a full time Chef generally earns $1,346 per week ($69,992 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
What are the job opportunities for a Chef?
The number of people working in this industry has grown strongly over the last five years. There are currently 101,000 people employed as a Chef in Australia compared to 80,200 five years ago. Chefs may find work across all regions of Australia.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights
How do I become a Chef?
If you’re planning a career as a Chef, consider enrolling in a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. You’ll learn basic cooking and food preparation methods and develop the skills to cook a range of meals, appetisers, salads and desserts. A Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery or a Diploma of Hospitality Management (Commercial Cookery) may also be appropriate.
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More information
A Chef organises and prepares food items in a commercial kitchen. You might work in a high end restaurant, a small café or for a catering company. Chefs plan menu items and may need to cater for special occasions or for other needs such as special dietary requirements. You might order supplies, check the quality of ingredients and supervise other staff working in your kitchen.
Chefs should be creative and passionate about food preparation. You’ll need to be highly organised and able to manage work in a busy kitchen environment. Chefs should have strong leadership skills and be able to communicate well with their team. You must be able to handle several tasks at one time and be prepared to work a range of shifts such as nights and weekends.
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