Family Chef jobs in Melbourne, VIC typically pay A$42–A$67 an hour (about A$7,250–A$11,600 a month full time). Both live-in and live-out positions are offered, with a usual schedule of 5 days a week with flexible evenings. Employers ask for culinary training or professional kitchen experience and a national police check and. Register with AvailJob to be matched with families hiring in Melbourne.
- Typical pay
- A$42–A$67
- per hour
- Full-time monthly
- A$7,250–A$11,600
- about 40 hours a week
- Live-in
- Sometimes
- accommodation provided
- Schedule
- 5 days a week with flexible evenings
- Open now
- 0
- register to be matched
Open family chef positions in Melbourne
No open position is listed for Melbourne today. New family chef jobs are added as families hire. Register once and we will match you to the next opening near you.
Register as a Family ChefAbout family chef jobs in Melbourne
A family chef cooks restaurant-quality meals for one family every day, combining professional technique with family-friendly menus. In Melbourne, VIC, these roles are offered by private households across Greater Melbourne, from busy professional couples to large multi-generation homes.
Melbourne is known for healthcare, education, technology, and advanced manufacturing, and many of the families who hire domestic staff here work for employers such as ANZ, NAB, Telstra, Monash Health, CSL, and the University of Melbourne. Melbourne's Parkville precinct is one of the largest biomedical research concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Main duties
- Design balanced weekly menus for adults and children
- Cook all main meals to a professional standard
- Source premium ingredients and manage suppliers
- Cater family events and holidays
- Keep kitchen records, allergens and budgets
Family Chef pay in Melbourne
Household incomes in Melbourne are shaped by an average local salary of around A$92,000, which is why family chef pay here sits above the Australia average. Pay rises with experience, references, live-in flexibility and extra duties such as driving or cooking.
Indicative ranges for 2026 based on local salary levels and published household pay; individual offers vary.
A day as a family chef
- 7:00Breakfast service
- 9:30Shopping & prep
- 12:30Lunch
- 15:00Batch cooking
- 18:30Dinner & clean-down
Why work in Melbourne?
The local job market is growing at 3.7% annually, so demand for reliable household staff keeps rising as more dual-income families move to Melbourne.
Melbourne is often described as “Medical Research and Education Capital”, and its households expect a professional standard of service.
Requirements
What families ask for
- Culinary training or professional kitchen experience
- Experience in private households
- Food safety certificate
- Portfolio of menus
Working in Australia
- Right to work in Australia: Workers must hold a visa with work rights; check eligibility through the government’s VEVO service.
- Checks: employers usually ask for a national police check and, for roles with children, a state Working With Children Check; NDIS worker screening applies to some disability support roles.
- Minimum pay: wages must meet the national minimum wage or the applicable award rate.
- Contract: A written agreement covering hours, pay rates, penalty rates and leave is strongly recommended.
Live-in or live-out?
Most family chef roles in Melbourne are live-out, paid by the hour and booked for regular days. Ask whether travel time between homes, evenings or weekends are paid at a higher rate.
How to get hired
- Register
Create your profile with your family chef experience, availability and references.
- Verification
Complete Australia right-to-work and background checks.
- Interview & trial
Meet the family and work a short, paid trial day.
- Contract & start
Agree pay, hours and leave in writing before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family chef earn in Melbourne, VIC?
Family Chef jobs in Melbourne, VIC typically pay A$42–A$67 an hour (about A$7,250–A$11,600 a month full time). Experience, live-in arrangements, hours and extra duties move pay within this range.
Are there live-in family chef jobs in Melbourne?
Both live-in and live-out positions are offered. Most family chef roles in Melbourne are live-out, paid by the hour and booked for regular days.
What do I need to work as a family chef in Australia?
Employers ask for culinary training or professional kitchen experience, experience in private households and a national police check and. You must also have the right to work in Australia.
What does a family chef do day to day?
A family chef cooks restaurant-quality meals for one family every day, combining professional technique with family-friendly menus. Typical duties include design balanced weekly menus for adults and children, cook all main meals to a professional standard, source premium ingredients and manage suppliers.
How do I apply for family chef jobs in Melbourne on AvailJob?
Register your profile with your experience, availability and references. When a family in Melbourne hires for this role, you are matched and contacted.
What hours does a family chef work?
A typical schedule is 5 days a week with flexible evenings. Hours, days off and overtime should be written into your contract.