If you're already working in a kitchen, preparing meals, assisting chefs, plating dishes, or managing prep stations, you've likely developed many essential skills on the job. But completing a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery gives you something more: Nationally Recognised Training that enhances your capabilities and supports your growth as a professional cook.

This qualification helps you refine your cooking techniques, strengthen your understanding of kitchen operations, and ensure you’re working to current industry standards in food safety, hygiene, and dietary requirements. With structured support from a dedicated trainer, you'll build confidence and consistency in your culinary practice.

Whether you're aiming to sharpen your skills, take on more responsibility in the kitchen, or work toward becoming a chef, this apprenticeship gives you the formal recognition and practical foundation to progress, all while you continue earning and learning in your current role.

Your employer plays a key role in supporting your apprenticeship journey. While your trainer delivers the formal training and assessment, your employer provides the day-to-day environment where you develop and refine your practical cookery skills.

Employers are not expected to act as trainers — instead, they work in partnership with Complete Hospitality Training to ensure your learning is relevant and effective.

Your employer’s involvement includes:

• Confirming your employment is suitable for the apprenticeship (including duties, hours, and kitchen setup).

• Allowing your trainer to conduct regular workplace visits that align with kitchen operations.

• Providing occasional feedback or third-party reports to support your assessment.

• Encouraging your participation in training activities and giving you opportunities to practise and grow.

This collaboration ensures you gain a Nationally Recognised Qualification, while your employer benefits from a more skilled and confident team member in the kitchen.

This apprenticeship allows you to gain a Nationally Recognised Qualification while continuing to work in your current kitchen role. All training takes place on the job — there’s no need for a separate placement, as your commercial kitchen becomes your learning environment.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will:

• Keep earning while you study through paid, on-the-job training.

• Receive regular one-on-one support from a qualified trainer.

• Apply your learning directly to real kitchen tasks and responsibilities.

• Complete assessments in your own workplace, with tasks based on practical cookery scenarios.

• Build confidence and capability in line with industry expectations.

• Preparing, seasoning, and cooking a wide variety of dishes to industry standards.

• Organising ingredients and equipment for efficient kitchen workflows.

• Following recipes, plating guidelines, and portion control procedures.

• Maintaining hygiene and food safety practices during food prep and service.

• Operating kitchen tools and equipment safely and effectively.

• Coordinating with front-of-house teams to ensure smooth service delivery.

• Cleaning and sanitising work areas to meet health regulations.

• Managing time and multitasking during high-pressure service periods.

• Supporting senior chefs and contributing to a positive kitchen culture.

• Preparing meals with care, consistency, and attention to detail.

• Communicating clearly with chefs, kitchenhands, and front-of-house staff.

• Managing your time and staying calm under pressure during service.

• Following recipes accurately and adapting to different kitchen styles.

• Taking initiative and working proactively during prep and service.

• Maintaining hygiene and food safety standards in a fast-paced environment.

• Being reliable, organised, and respectful in a team setting.

• Showing a genuine interest in cooking, ingredients, and culinary techniques.

• Building resilience and stamina to manage long or physically demanding shifts.

• Prepare, cook, and present dishes across a variety of service styles.

• Manage food preparation timelines and coordinate kitchen workflows.

• Follow food safety, hygiene, and workplace health procedures.

• Use commercial kitchen equipment safely and efficiently.

• Plan and organise prep tasks for smooth service delivery.

• Adapt recipes and methods to meet dietary or customer needs.

• Work effectively with kitchen and front-of-house teams.

• Support new kitchen staff and contribute to a positive team culture.

Assessment is designed to reflect real commercial kitchen environments and support your growth on the job. You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods that connect directly to your workplace experience, including:

• Practical demonstrations and observations in your kitchen.

• Written tasks and short-answer questions.

• Supervisor or employer third-party reports.

• Kitchen-focused projects and case studies.

Your trainer will guide you throughout the process, ensuring each task is relevant and achievable within your role. This hands-on approach allows you to develop new skills, reinforce what you already know, and work toward your qualification with confidence.

At Complete Hospitality Training, you’ll be supported by experienced trainers who understand the fast-paced nature of commercial kitchens and the demands of working in a professional cooking environment. Your trainer will work with you one-on-one in your workplace, providing tailored support, regular check-ins, and guidance to help you build confidence and complete your assessments. Whether it’s explaining a task, demonstrating a skill, or offering feedback, they’ll ensure your learning stays relevant to your role in the kitchen. This personalised approach allows you to learn at your pace, ask questions when you need to, and strengthen your skills while continuing to work and earn.

Many apprentices complete the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery to strengthen their kitchen skills and gain confidence in a professional culinary environment. For some, this qualification is all they need to succeed. But if you’re looking to take your career further, there are clear pathways to continue your training.

After completing this course, you may wish to progress to the SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, which focuses on leadership, kitchen supervision, and managing daily operations. From there, higher-level qualifications like the SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management or SIT60322 Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management can help prepare you for roles such as head chef, kitchen manager, or even business owner.

While further study doesn’t guarantee a specific job outcome, it can support your long-term career goals and help you stand out in a competitive industry.

Skills First is a Victorian Government scheme that helps people access subsidised vocational education and training. If you are eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your course tuition fees. Eligibility Criteria Citizenship or Residency Status To be eligible, you must be one of the following:

• An Australian citizen; or

• A New Zealand citizen; or

• A Permanent Resident; or

• An Asylum Seeker – for which you are exempt from meeting the citizenship/permanent residence requirements if you meet one of a, b or c below:

a) You can provide a signed letter from one of the below agencies, referring you to government subsidised training:

• the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), or

• the Australian Red Cross Support for Trafficked People Program or

b) You hold a Bridging Visa and have lodged an application (or are the dependant of an applicant) for:

• a Humanitarian, Protection or Refugee visa, such as:

• Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202)

• Humanitarian (Temporary) (subclass 449)

• Protection visa (subclass 866)

• Refugee visa 200 Refugee

• Refugee visa 201 In-country Special Humanitarian

• Refugee visa 203 Emergency Rescue

• Refugee visa 204 Woman at Risk

• Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)

• Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)

• Temporary Humanitarian Concern (subclass 786)

• Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) under s.417 or s.48b of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) which is yet to be determined or

c) You hold, or you are the dependant of someone who holds, a valid Humanitarian, Protection, or Refugee visa (refer applicable visa types listed above) Note: This list of visa types provided above is not exhaustive. Please contact the Department of Home Affairs if you're unsure about your visa type. For both b and c above:

• Your VEVO check must confirm unlimited study rights, and

• If your course includes placement, you must also have unlimited work rights.

Limits on Government-Funded Training

• 2 in a Year Rule: You can commence a maximum of 2 subsidised qualifications, and 2 subsidised skill sets per calendar year.

• 2 at a Time Rule: You can only study a maximum of 2 Skills First subsidised programs at once.

Complete Hospitality Training (CHT) is an RTO that focuses exclusively on the hospitality industry. With over 30 years of experience, CHT is dedicated to delivering high-quality, industry-relevant training that meets the needs of both students and employers across Victoria.

Renowned for its workplace-based training model, CHT provides flexible learning options through apprenticeships and traineeships allowing students to gain Nationally Recognised Qualifications while continuing to work in the industry. Their practical, hands-on approach ensures that learning is directly applicable to real-world hospitality environments.

Whether you're working in a café, bar, hotel, or restaurant, Complete Hospitality Training offers the support, resources, and expertise to help you step into leadership roles and build a long-term career in hospitality.