There’s no denying Australia’s great foodie culture. Some of our restaurants are ranked amongst the best in the world!
Some eateries even rival their origins with their produce, like Lune Melbourne’s World’s Best croissants (pardon to the French!).
Becoming a chef can be an exciting, varied, and lucrative career choice – but what does it take to get there?
Let’s find out!
Where Does the Word ‘Chef’ Come From?
The word ‘chef’ comes from the French phrase ‘chef de cuisine’, which translates to ‘boss of the kitchen’.
A chef is a professional cook who manages all aspects of a kitchen. From developing the menu and specials to overseeing all food prep, signing off on dishes and managing the rest of the kitchen team – it’s their role to look after everything and deliver the experience customers expect.
Chefs are trained through formal qualifications or an apprenticeship – no university degree is required! They will typically have several years of experience in a range of kitchen environments and have usually worked in all the other roles in a kitchen, meaning they have a solid expectation of what every role requires.
Chefs master a range of techniques in all areas of cooking to discover their niche, with many specialising in a particular cuisine by the time they become the Head Chef.
Becoming a Chef: The Pathway
To become a chef, there are two core pathways you can start with:
- Gaining post-school qualifications.
- An Apprenticeship.
Here’s a breakdown of what they involve:
- Post-School Qualification: Once you gain your high school certificate, you can study with TAFE or a dedicated culinary registered training organisation to gain your cookery qualifications. At a minimum, you’ll need a Certificate III, IV or Diploma in Commercial Cookery. If you want to specialise early on, such as in pastry cheffing, you can complete a certificate III, IV, or Diploma in Patisserie
- Apprenticeship: An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to start a career as a chef. The role is highly hands-on and practical, so an apprenticeship marries the best of both worlds – gaining your industry-recognised qualifications while gaining relevant work experience. You can typically start an apprenticeship once you’ve completed your Year 10 education and work your way up.
3 Key Things to Know to Help You On Your Way
While being a chef undoubtedly involves a lot of fun and creativity, it can also be stressful with lots of pressure to deliver. It’s worth spending some time thinking bout the realities of being a chef and whether it’s a suitable workplace for you.
Here are three key things we think you should know and do before committing to the path:
- Set your expectations: It’s easy to see the glossy side of the career on social media, but it’s worth remembering the role involves a lot of long hours, night work and weekends. Getting time off is notoriously tricky (especially if you’re responsible for leading the kitchen!).
- Gain some work experience: One of the best ways to learn more and discover if it’s right for you is through work experience. Though you’ll likely be helping mainly with cleaning at this stage, it’s still an excellent opportunity to observe a busy kitchen environment and ask chefs about their work and experiences.
- Define your pathway: When you think about becoming a chef – what does this look like daily? What type of food are you preparing and cooking? The more you define this path, the more you can work to gain the experience and information that will help you get ahead.
Chef Careers: Key Statistics
Below, we’ve collated a few key stats about becoming a chef that could help you better understand what this career path looks like:
- How long it takes to get qualified: 6 months to 3 years.
- Salary: $60-70,000 (average salary in Australia).
- Hours Worked Per Week: 40-50 hours per week (although many chefs claim to work more).
- Role Availability in Australia: There has been a high demand for chefs over the past few years, with 81,000 new job openings predicted in the next five years.
Find Out More
Keen to learn more about the hospitality sector and the other roles on offer? We’ve got you covered!
Head over to our dedicated Industry Profile, and then check out our new jobs page to see where you could get started.
