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A Pastry Chef prepares food items such as cakes, pastries, biscuits, tarts and buns. You might work for a restaurant or café or for a specialist bakery or pastry store. Pastry Chefs might also make speciality fillings for their pastries and decorate desserts with elaborate designs. Your role might involve preparing ingredients, checking stock levels and liaising with suppliers.
Pastry Chefs should be highly skilled at their craft and have excellent attention to detail. You’ll need to work as part of a team and have strong communication skills. Pastry Chefs should be organised and be able to attend to several tasks at one time. You may need to prioritise your workload and must be willing to work irregular hours when required.
There are 4 courses available for people who want to become a Pastry Chef.
Possible job outcomes:
Become a senior pastry chef with the SIT40721 Certificate IV in Patisserie. This fantastic qualification will teach you how to design and produce sweet showpieces as well as a wide range of patisserie dishes including cakes, chocolate confectionary, marzipan, desserts, pastries, petit fours, breads and baked goods. You’ll also gain skills in leadership, stock control, and kitchen hygiene practices. Enquire now for the full list of study units, commercial pastry chef career outcomes, and upcoming enrolment opportunities in your area..
Average duration: 18 months.
Are you an experienced baker and needing the business skills to step up to a manager’s role — or even open your own bakery? The FBP40221 Certificate IV in Baking is just what you need. Not only will you gain extensive skills in business management, leadership, food safety, and stock control — you’ll also advance your technical knowledge of baking and pastry making. Enquire now for the full list of study units and requirements for enrolment..
Average duration: 12 months.
Become a qualified pastry chef or cake decorator with the FBP30321 Certificate III in Cake and Pastry. This nationally recognised course is also a trade qualification and you’ll graduate with commercial grade baking skills. The course will teach you how to make and decorate contemporary cakes, pies, pastries, croissants, meringues, puddings, sponges, fillings, and artisan products. You’ll also gain essential back-of-house skills including OHS, food safety programs, recipe calculations, stock ordering, retail sales and inventory control. Enquire now for enrolment dates, study unit choices, and opportunities for subsidised training..
Average duration: 24 months.
Become a qualified pastry chef with the SIT31021 Certificate III in Patisserie. With this fantastic qualification you’ll have the skills to create fantastic bread and yeast products as well as specialist cakes, pastries, petit fours, biscuits and cookies, confectionary, and desserts. The course also covers: perishable stock control, modern cooking methods, kitchen hygiene and safety, food preparation equipment, planning and costing recipes. Enquire now for the full list of entry requirements, patisserie competencies, and enrolment opportunities in your area..
In Australia, a full time Pastry Chef generally earns $1,150 per week ($59,800 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.
The number of people working in this field has decreased in recent years. There are currently 6,700 people employed as a Pastry Chef in Australia compared to 9,200 five years ago. Pastry Chefs may find work across all regions of Australia.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights
If you’re interested in a career as a Pastry Chef, consider enrolling in a Certificate III in Patisserie. This course will give you the skills to prepare a range of cakes, pastries, gateaux, desserts and biscuits, as well as sweet yeast and artisan bread. A Certificate IV in Patisserie or a Certificate IV in Baking may also be appropriate.
We’ll find nearby campuses and check if you’re eligible for funding in your state.
Here are some potential career pathways within baking, cookery and catering and patisserie. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
Baking
Assistant Baker
$865 weekly pay
Assistant Pastry Chef
Bakery Assistant
$960 weekly pay
Baker
$1,150 weekly pay
Bakery Manager
Bakery Production Operator
Pastry Chef
Patissier
Cookery and Catering
Apprentice Chef
Catering Assistant
Cooks Assistant
Food Service Assistant
Kitchen Attendant
Sandwich Hand
Breakfast Chef
Chef
Commis Chef
Cook
Demi Chef
Food Safety Supervisor
$1,050 weekly pay
Pizza Chef
Chef de Partie
$1,350 weekly pay
Executive Chef
$1,730 weekly pay
Sous Chef
Patisserie
Cake Decorator
Learn more about Pastry Chef courses in your area.