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As a Chef you may be posted to Air Force bases located within QLD and the Northern Territory, 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 NSW, VIC, QLD and the ACT.

You will be paid while you train, and on completion of your Initial Military Training and Employment Training, you’ll earn at least:

Training

Your starting salary

Trained

Your salary once trained

In the Air Force you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training. In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.

General Entry: Non-Technical

Chefs have many opportunities to continue their professional development. The Logistics musterings (Supply, Ground Crew and Chef) have a Logistics Professional Development Program (LPDP). The LPDP provides personnel with professional development opportunities via logistics or business related formal education. The program allows logistics personnel to develop and broaden their logistics knowledge, and to also keep abreast of changes within logistics based industries.

As well, subsequent cookery training (Post Graduate Courses) are promotion pre-requisite courses which in most cases lead to promotion for selected suitable personnel provided they meet all other requirements such as performance and time in rank, and vacancies at the higher rank exist. The ADF Catering Supervisor Course is the pre-requisite trade course for promotion from Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman to Corporal. This course is designed to prepare selected Chefs for promotion to the next rank level by providing the necessary skill sets to become an effective kitchen supervisor as a Corporal.

General Entry: Qualified

Chefs have many opportunities to continue their professional development. The Logistics musterings (Supply, Ground Crew and Chef) have a Logistics Professional Development Program (LPDP). The LPDP provides personnel with professional development opportunities via logistics or business related formal education. The program allows logistics personnel to develop and broaden their logistics knowledge, and to also keep abreast of changes within logistics based industries.

As well, subsequent cookery training (Post Graduate Courses) are promotion pre-requisite courses which in most cases lead to promotion for selected suitable personnel provided they meet all other requirements such as performance and time in rank, and vacancies at the higher rank exist. The ADF Catering Supervisor Course is the pre-requisite trade course for promotion from Leading Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftwoman to Corporal. This course is designed to prepare selected Chefs for promotion to the next rank level by providing the necessary skill sets to become an effective kitchen supervisor as a Corporal.

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Hear first-hand about what working in the ADF is really like. 

Explore what training in the Air Force will look like.

Discover upcoming events and experiences. 

Fuelling aircraft is one thing, but fuelling the people behind the Air Force is just as important. The role of an Air Force Chef is a creative, innovative job that allows you to show a little flare. With new menus created every day, you&rsquo;ll be catering high quality meals on bases, in in-flight kitchens or in field kitchens, in support of exercises and operations. There&rsquo;s never a dull day.
<div class="p">What you&rsquo;ll do</div>
You&rsquo;ll be working in a cohesive team environment handling day-to-day tasks that include:
<ul>
 <li>Developing nutritious daily menus</li>
 <li>Preparing main meals, salads, sweets, and in-flight rations</li>
 <li>Procuring of rations and stock management</li>
 <li>Preparing in-flight catering for aircrew and passengers</li>
 <li>Supporting VIP events and functions</li>
 <li>Training and preparation for deployments</li>
</ul>
As part of the Air Force team, you won&rsquo;t find yourself limited to kitchen duties &ndash; you&rsquo;ll get varied experiences as well. For instance, you could find yourself travelling on deployment at short notice to provide vital support for government disaster relief and humanitarian aid. 
<div class="p">Training and Career progression</div>
It doesn&rsquo;t matter if you join as a fully trained chef or with no qualifications, there&rsquo;s always something new to learn. You&rsquo;ll receive training and a nationally recognised qualification during your Initial Employment Training (IET), and there will be further opportunities for you to pursue additional learning. This includes training which increases your eligibility for higher standings within the service, and which is paid for by the Air Force.
The sky&rsquo;s the limit, with opportunities to travel and work in different environments around Australia and overseas.
<div class="p">Additional Information</div>
This isn&rsquo;t your typical hospitality role. As you serve the community within a tight-knit team, every day you&rsquo;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.
This is a culinary opportunity with a difference. As part of a great team, you&rsquo;ll receive chef and military training and be challenged mentally, physically and creatively, all while helping to protect our country.
<div class="p">In-service Information</div>
In the Air Force this role is known as a Chef.

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No experience is required, you'll receive paid on-the-job training, career progression opportunities and unrivalled benefits working both at sea and ashore.View all other priority to fill roles

Fuel Air Force personnel and ensure they’re ready to go by planning and preparing food on well-equipped air base facilities, inflight kitchens, and field kitchens on operations and exercises.

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Chef

Find out what it’s like

Benefits you won't see anywhere else

You’ll enjoy the following:

Great salary from day one, which increases with experience

Generous superannuation of 16.4% – a huge 4.9% over the Australian standard

Help to buy a home, a subsidised home loan or rent allowance

Free medical and dental for you, and subsidised healthcare for you and your family

Fully paid training

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