Sydney and other advertised locations
Merivale — kitchen teams
Use the kitchen category and look for kitchen-hand or steward roles, rather than chef positions requiring experience or qualifications.
AUSTRALIA · JOB GUIDE
Kitchen hand jobs in Australia
Kitchen hands keep a kitchen functioning through dishwashing, cleaning and practical support. It can be an accessible hospitality starting point, but it is demanding work in a hot, busy environment. The best match is a kitchen that clearly explains the duties and provides instruction before you use its equipment.
Illustrative photo
This could suit you if…
You like clear practical tasks and want a kitchen entry route that does not depend on being a trained chef.
The trade-offs
Dishwashing, bins and cleaning make up much of the work. Heat, wet floors and service deadlines can make shifts demanding.
What does the work involve?
Sort dirty plates and cookware, run the dishwasher or pot-wash station and return clean items where cooks can find them. Keep clean and dirty work separate and deal with rubbish before it blocks the work area.
Help with simple preparation, stock movement or food storage when assigned and trained. Follow the closing clean, report faults and make sure urgent requests from the kitchen do not lead to unsafe shortcuts.
Is kitchen-hand work a beginner route?
It can be, particularly where the employer offers training. Dishwashing, cleaning and basic preparation are different from a cook or chef position. Show that you can follow hygiene instructions, keep up with a busy service and communicate when something is unsafe or running behind.
What will affect my budget?
A late restaurant close can make transport home expensive; daytime catering may fit a different routine. Compare the actual shift times and available hours, not just the hourly rate.
What do I need before applying?
You do not need to present yourself as a qualified chef for a dishwashing role. Employers may still ask for kitchen experience, stamina and availability for split shifts, weekends or late finishes.
Food hygiene, safe chemical use and manual handling are part of the job. Ask for instruction on each machine and cleaning product; never assume equipment works like the one in a previous workplace.
Which training is worth doing?
DoFoodSafely
Free Victorian Government online learning covering food handling, personal hygiene, contamination, allergens, storage and cleaning. It is non-accredited and does not replace a Food Safety Supervisor qualification.
Companies and application routes
Direct employer and agency application routes, checked 17 October 2026.
Multiple Australian cities
Pinnacle People
Hospitality staffing recruiter with a temporary-work application route. Check location, relevant experience and shift requirements; registration is not a promise of hours.
Multiple Australian locations
Compass Group — frontline hospitality
Filter the frontline vacancies by Barista, Kitchenhand or Food & Beverage Attendant, then Casual and your location. Includes catering and venue teams.
Brisbane, QLD
BrewDog — Brisbane
The bar-jobs page lists Brisbane Bar & Floor Crew and Kitchen Porter routes. Select Brisbane to avoid overseas vacancies.
How do I put together a good application?
Search kitchen hand, kitchen steward, dishwasher and catering assistant. Read the duties carefully: some catering-assistant positions involve direct food service, while others focus on washing and cleaning.
Give concrete examples of working cleanly, keeping to routines and taking direction during busy periods. Confirm the supervisor, uniform, start time and whether any demonstration is part of the interview or paid work.
What can you earn?
Kitchen attendant grades distinguish basic cleaning and washing-up from additional duties and responsibility. These Hospitality Award examples show how the first two levels differ.
| Classification | Casual weekday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — washing up and basic kitchen assistance | $33.05 | $39.66 | $46.27 |
| Level 2 — specialised non-cooking duties or supervision | $33.85 | $40.62 | $47.39 |
These figures apply to adults in the named Hospitality Award classifications, not every job with this title. A registered enterprise agreement or a different industry award can apply. The classification follows the actual duties.
Rates are per hour before tax and exclude super. Casual loading is already included. These are ordinary-hours minimums from 1 July 2026; overtime, public holidays and late-night additions are separate.
These full rates apply from age 20 under the Hospitality Award. Younger employees serving liquor receive the adult rate for their classification.
Sources and further reading
Food Standards: food-handler training
Sources checked 17 October 2026.
Compass Group — frontline hospitality — official recruitment · checked 17 October 2026
BrewDog — Brisbane — official recruitment · checked 17 October 2026