All Things Equal is an innovative social-enterprise providing purposeful paid employment, training and work-readiness for people with disability in the hospitality industry.

As we mature, our purpose evolves, and our focus is to now build an Employment Pathway model; to act as a stepping stone towards mainstream employment, providing our employees with disability the skills, confidence, and independence to live a life with purpose. To achieve this purpose, we are evolving the ways in which support is provided in the workplace.

A key component of the Employment Pathway model is our Cooking School, a much-loved program for people with disability (participants) and volunteers to partake in a semester-long skill development program. The Cooking School runs 3 nights each week and on average, each class hosts 8 participants, 8 volunteers and 2 Cooking School Facilitators.

Participants engage in the cooking school program with a three-hour class each week where they are provided with support and guidance to develop their skills and capacity in the kitchen by making several dishes. At the completion of each cooking session, the group enjoy a meal together to share all the dishes they have created.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Cooking School Facilitator will lead each Cooking School class, ensure all operations run smoothly and everyone is safe and supported. The Cooking School Facilitator will work alongside another facilitator who, as a team, will ensure every participant is developing their capacity in the kitchen, has their needs met and enjoys the program.

In all aspects of the role, the best possible outcome for our participants must be the primary purpose. The Cooking School Facilitator will work collaboratively with the volunteers, mentoring them and assisting them to provide individualised support to the participants.

The Cooking School Facilitator will be responsible for the quality of food created during the program including utilising effective time management to fulfil the varying needs and goals of each class.

This will include:

• Facilitate, motivate and lead all participants and volunteers to ensure each class is structured and enjoyable.
• Provide effective hands-on direction and coaching to all participants and volunteers to build their capabilities, with positive support and guidance.
• Encourage independence of all participants by using visual recipes.
• Support participants and volunteers to be engaged, focused, calm, and participating to their best capacity.
• Provide constructive and effective feedback to participants and volunteers when needed.
• Ensure strong knowledge of chosen recipes including an understanding of time required for dishes and balancing several recipes per class.
• Provide initial training to volunteers on all recipes to ensure that every volunteer has a basic understanding of how to support their participant.
• Maintain excellent food quality standards and be hands-on in the production and presentation of dishes. Ensure food quality, taste and presentation is consistently of a high standard.

Cooking classes run several late afternoons/evenings per week. This is a casual on-going role with the ability to be involved across one or several classes each week.

OUR DREAM CANDIDATE

• Relevant trade (cooking) qualifications (ideal, but not essential)
• Experience working in a cafe or restaurant kitchen
• Strong understanding of the disability space and experience in providing individualised support
• Ability to motivate and mentor individuals all with a set of unique qualities
• Knowledgeable, compassionate and possesses the attributes of a good teacher and mentor
• Must harness patience and encourage a supportive, positive team environment
• A keen desire to work in a value-based non-profit environment
• Strong understanding of Food Safety principles and standards
• Strong communication skills
• A current First Aid certificate (or willing to obtain)
• Must have valid Visa and Australian working rights
• Must have Working With Children's Check and Police Check (or willing to obtain)