Air Force
Full Time

Chef

Full Time
In-service title: Chef

The role of an Air Force Chef is a creative, innovative job that allows you to show a little flare. Fuelling aircraft is one thing, but fuelling the people behind the Air Force is just as important.

This isn’t your typical hospitality role. As you serve the community within a tight-knit team, every day you’ll discover activities outside of your normal realm, but that's all a part of the excitement. The constant variety keeps you on your toes and helps build character and resilience.

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Two Air Force chefs in the kitchen are preparing a meal.

What you'll do

With new menus created every day, you’ll prepare high-quality meals for Air Force personnel in a range of different environments, including on bases, in-flight kitchens or in field kitchens, in support of exercises and operations. As part of your day-to-day role, you’ll be required to handle, prepare and cook all types of food, including all types of meat, poultry, pork and seafood.

As part of a great team, you’ll receive chef and military training and be challenged mentally, physically and creatively, all while helping to protect our country.

You’ll also get varied experiences outside of kitchen duties. For instance, you could find yourself travelling on deployment at short notice to provide vital support for government disaster relief and humanitarian aid. There’s never a dull day.

Your duties may include:

  • developing nutritious daily menus
  • preparing main meals, salads, sweets, and in-flight rations
  • procuring of rations and stock management
  • preparing in-flight catering for aircrew and passengers
  • supporting VIP events and functions
  • training and preparation for deployments.

Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Air Force will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and help you to lead teams of aviators in future.

Following training, you could be posted to Air Force bases located within Qld and the NT, with limited opportunity for overseas deployment. On promotion to the rank of Corporal and above, opportunities exist to be posted to a catering capability support position located within the ACT, NSW, Qld and Vic.

Discover where the Air Force operates across Australia on our base locations map.

Requirements and training

Select an entry method
Salary, requirements and training information will change depending on the entry method selected.
About entry methods
Requirements
Citizenship

You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.

Age

You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 56 years.

Licences

For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.

Security requirements

All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.

For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.

Education and experience

Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in Year 10 English and Maths. If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.

Health and fitness

To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.

Female

  • Sit-ups (feet held): 20
  • Shuttle Run Score: 5.1.

Male

  • Sit-ups (feet held): 20
  • Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.

Period of service

You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.

You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.

Training
Military training

Course: Air Force Recruit Course
Duration: 11 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW

During this training you will transition from civilian to Service life, acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and physical fitness required for your role; and learning to become an effective and productive member of the Air Force.

The major elements of the course include:

  • personal development and teamwork
  • parade drill
  • weapon handling and firing
  • airfield defence
  • fire fighting
  • physical fitness
  • Air Force history, customs and traditions
  • military law.

After graduation, you'll undertake Initial Employment Training (IET) in your trade or category.

Employment training

Course: ADF Catering Operators Course
Duration: 27 weeks
Location: ADF School of Catering (ADFSC), HMAS Cerberus, Vic

Chisholm Institute of TAFE in partnership with the ADFSC delivers the Initial Employment Training (IET) for chef trainees. This consists of 27 weeks of chef training delivered through TAFE, with time spent in the HMAS Cerberus Kitchen Simulator consolidating skills and knowledge as well as developing bulk catering skills using modern cooking technologies. Here you will commence your trade apprenticeship and complete your Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. 

The ADF Catering Operator Course provides both practical and theoretical instruction in all aspects of cookery and kitchen activities, including developing the skills essential to working successfully in both the land and maritime domains. To provide diverse, balanced and nutritious meals, you will be required to handle, prepare and cook with wide range of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. You’ll also be educated in aspects of equipment safety, nutrition, customer service and working in a small teams.

Topics include:

  • Preparing poultry, seafood and meat dishes (beef, lamb, pork, game)
  • Preparing vegetables, fruit, eggs and baked goods
  • Preparing appetisers, salads, stocks, sauces and soups
  • Producing pastry, cakes, breads and desserts
  • Preparing food to meet special dietary requirements
  • Preparing dishes using basic methods of cooking
  • Producing and serving food for buffets
  • Maintaining the quality of perishable items
  • Using food preparation equipment
  • Co-ordinating cooking operations
  • Planning and costing basic menus
  • Cleaning kitchen premises and equipment
  • Participating in environmentally sustainable work practices, working effectively with
  • other and as a Chef
  • Use of hygienic practices for food safety
  • Participating in safe food handling and safe work practices
  • Dealing with conflict situations
  • Coaching others in job skills

Upon completion of IET, you’ll be awarded a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. Chef Trade Certification occurs 3 years’ post commencement of the IET program and combines the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and evidence gathered by completion of the Air Force Chef Workplace Journal. Trade Certificates are issued by the Commissioner for Vocational Training, NSW Government Department of Education which are industry recognised as the same level as a completed apprenticeship.

Further training

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to continue your professional development. The Logistics Professional Development Program (LPDP) will provide you with professional development opportunities via logistics or business-related formal education. The program enables you to develop and broaden your logistics knowledge, and to also keep up with any changes within logistics-based industries.

In addition, subsequent cookery training (postgraduate courses) are promotion pre-requisite courses which in most cases lead to promotion provided you meet all other requirements such as performance and time in rank, and vacancies at the higher rank exist.

The ADF Manager Course is a pre-requisite promotion course designed to equip Air Force Senior Chefs with the advanced knowledge and practical skills required to confidently undertake the responsibilities of a Catering Manager across all ADF units and establishments. Through advanced knowledge and practical skill instruction, it aims to develop the capability to oversee catering operations, ensure compliance with Defence and civil standards, manage personnel and resources effectively, and support the delivery of high quality, nutritious and operationally aligned food services across the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Air Force.