Get a taste for working in a kitchen
Learn the skills to prepare for a career in a commercial kitchen.
This skill set will give you an introduction to working in kitchen operations in restaurants, hotels, catering facilities, clubs, pubs, cafes, coffee shops, aged care facilities, hospitals, prisons and schools.
You will learn basic food preparation and cookery skills under the supervision of experienced commercial lecturer cooks.
Gain the skills to:
- Clean kitchen premises and equipment
- Use hygiene practices for food safety
- Participate in safe work practice
- Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
- Use food preparation equipment
Tuition and resource fees
Eligible students study this course absolutely free. If you are not eligible you can expect to pay $387.05.
Course dates
To be confirmed
Help using our online application:
You will need to have the evidence requirements and relevant documents ready to upload with your application. See our guide for applying using our online system (1 MB) (PDF document - opens in a new tab) .
If you're aged 15—24 years (not at school), receiving the JobSeeker payment, receiving Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY or holding a pensioner concession card, Health Care Card or a Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, or a dependent of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution, you are eligible to enrol for free!
* Please note that eligibility requirements apply to some of the free training.
This skill set is part of the Skills Ready program. Other skill sets can be found on our courses page, using the Refine course results>Study mode filters.
All students are required to wear a uniform while working in our commercial kitchens. Please see the order form (211 KB) (PDF document) for more information, costs to be paid by students, and the list of required items below.
- Chef's white jacket
- Chef's Pants
- White apron
- Chef's white flat hat
- Black safety shoes
- (Knives will be provided)
Attendance in class
This course is equivalent to 2 days per week for 5 weeks.
At-home study
As well as the in-class component, you will need to complete additional study each week outside of class hours, including private study, assignment preparation, and research.
You will need to have the basic technical requirements for at-home study. If you don’t have access to a computer and WiFi at home, we recommend using our library computers during library hours.
Work placement
There is no work placement required for this course.
What you need for your first day of class
On your first day you should bring your SM TAFE confirmation enrolment receipt, your student ID and stationery (pen, pencil, exercise book and USB). Students are welcome to bring in their own laptop or tablet.
In addition, the following uniform is required to be purchased (approximately $230) and worn at all classes:
- chef jacket
- apron
- chef pants
- chef hat
- black safety boots
- hairnet/beard net if required
Further information provided at enrolment.
Job ready skill sets are 100% free for the following eligible students:
- People aged 15—24 years at the time of enrolment (excluding school students)
- Secondary school-aged people who are not enrolled at school
- People receiving the JobSeeker or JobKeeper payment
- People and dependents of people receiving the Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY
- People and dependents of people holding:
- pensioner concession card or Health Care Card; or
- a Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs - Dependents of people who are inmates of a custodial institution
