Food for Life Facilitator

ABOUT US

McAuley Community Services for Women helps women and children who have faced family violence and homelessness to take control of their lives. Through a range of supports including accommodation, legal, health, recreation and social responses, we support women to leave us with restored capacity and greater opportunities for safe housing, economic capability and wellbeing. We work alongside women and children, recognising their strengths and fostering their resilience to create a new future.

Feminism, intersectionality and anti-oppressive practices are imbedded within our client practice and our culture.

Ignite Change through Food: Join McAuley as a Food for Life Facilitator!

Are you passionate about food, health, and empowering women? We’re looking for a dynamic and compassionate individual to take on the role of Food for Life Facilitator — someone who can do more than cook, but truly inspire through every meal and every moment in the kitchen.

In this unique and rewarding position, you’ll not only prepare nutritious daily meals that promote wellbeing, but also lead hands-on classes that build confidence, life skills, and independence around healthy eating and safe cooking. You'll work closely with women to support their individual dietary needs while fostering a sense of community and healing through food.

What You'll Do:

• Create delicious, wholesome meals tailored to individual health needs — and teach others to do the same!
• Empower women by delivering engaging cooking and nutrition classes in both group and one-on-one settings.
• Foster a warm, welcoming, and supportive kitchen space where clients feel seen, respected, and valued.
• Design and implement a sustainable, client-focused cooking program that grows with the needs of the community.
• Collaborate with a dedicated team through case-coordination meetings to support participants in building their strengths, discovering their passions, and achieving their personal goals within the Community Services program.

This role is perfect for someone who sees food as more than fuel — someone who believes in its power to nourish, connect, and transform lives.

This is a Permanent Part-Time (32.5 hours per week - 0.85 EFT) opportunity based in Footscray within our Community Services program. The position reports to the Manager, Homelesness.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Experience working in a commercial kitchen preparing food for 20+ people at a time.
• Demonstrated experience relevant to working with clients individually and/or within a group setting with trauma backgrounds and complex needs, including homelessness, family violence, alcohol, drugs, CALD and/or mental illness.
• The ability to manage service obligations including confidentiality, duty of care, mandatory reporting, other relevant legislation and professional conduct.

Please address the full Key Selection Criteria outlined in the PD as part of your application.

For a full position listing, please click APPLY. The Position Description is available for review at the bottom of the page.

For more information, please contact:

Phillippa Dwyer at phillippa.dwyer@mackillop.org.au or on 03 9362 8931.

Our offer

• Hourly Rate of $43.08 to $46.35 as outlined in the SCHADS Award Level 4, dependent on qualification and experience. 
• Salary packaging – we can help you to maximize your salary packaging up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Paid Training that is industry specific including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Sanctuary and Cultural Awareness training.
• Fitness Passport - which is a discounted workplace health and fitness program available to you and your family. For a fraction of the price of a regular gym membership.
• Employee Assistance Program- Free access to a wide range of options with all aspects of life such as social, financial, physical, mental health by providing counselling and coaching supporting relating both to your circumstance, even including health advice from qualified nutritionists.
• Supportive Environment - Monthly supportive meetings with your direct manager.
• Sanctuary Organisation - MacKillop’s work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, an evidence-supported, whole of organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver’s Licence;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.

Please note, we are only considering female identifying candidates for this position. McAuley Community Services for Women has an exemption to gender equality requirements.

Our Commitment:

McAuley is part of MacKillop Family Services and celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that we continue to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible