Certificate II in Cookery

If you love food and enjoy being in the kitchen, this course is the perfect way to turn your passion into a potential career. The Certificate II in Cookery (VET Delivered to Secondary Students) gives you hands-on experience in food preparation and introduces you to the essential skills used in commercial kitchens.

You’ll learn how to prepare a variety of dishes and gain an understanding of kitchen operations, food safety, and presentation techniques. This course prepares you for work in cafes, restaurants, pubs, and other hospitality venues.

• hygienic practices for food safety
• how to clean kitchen premises and equipment
• how to make appetisers and salads
• how to cook vegetable, fruit, egg, pasta and rice dishes
• how to prepare poultry dishes

• Chef
• Bar attendant
• Kitchen hand
• Bakery assistant
• Waiter
• Butcher
• Caterer

This course is a great starting point for a career in the hospitality and food service industry. It provides foundational skills that prepare you for further training or entry-level roles in commercial kitchens.

After this course, you may choose to continue studying with South West TAFE with the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. You can complete this course at our Warrnambool campus or learn on-the-job with an apprenticeship in a cafe or restaurant. This course will lead to roles as a qualified cook or chef, learning to prepare a wide range of dishes in a fast-paced kitchen environment.

SWTAFE Warrnambool campus

Thursday afternoons (1pm - 5pm) during school terms.
One week-long school holiday block training (term 2 break, dates to be confirmed), Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm each day).

Portland Secondary College Trade Training Centre*

Thursday afternoons (1pm - 5pm) during school terms.

Lorne P-12 Trade Training Centre*

Thursdays (10am - 2pm) during school terms.

*This is an auspiced training agreement where training is delivered by a third party on behalf of SWTAFE.

This course is partial completion only. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Statement of Attainment listing the successful units completed. You may be able to use the Statement of Attainment to receive credit towards a full qualification, reducing the time and cost of further study.

Credit to ATAR score

Students undertaking this VET DSS program are eligible for credit of up to four VCE VET units on their VCE Statement of Results: two units at Unit 1-2 level and a Unit 3-4 sequence. Students may be entitled to 10% increment towards their VCE.

Study score

Students have the option to undertake scored assessment, and the study score can be fully counted as one of the student's best four studies for ATAR purposes, or will count as a fifth or sixth study increment, if it is not one of the student's four highest scores.

VCE Vocational Major

Students undertaking this VET DSS program through the VCE Vocational Major stream will need to complete a minimum of 180 nominal hours of a VET DSS program over a 2-year period.

Any costs and fees associated with completing this course will managed directly with your school. Please contact your school for further information.

Some courses require specific resources or materials necessary for your study e.g. tools of the trade, uniform, etc. Please check with your school's VET DSS coordinator to determine resource costs applicable to you.

There are 5 steps to applying for a VET DSS program with SWTAFE:

1. Look at your options - chat with your school's VET DSS Coordinator and your parents/guardians about a program that will suit you.
2. Apply - complete a short online application form
3. Complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment online
4. Chat to our team - your SWTAFE teacher or course specialist will contact you to discuss the course in more detail and ensure the right units of study are selected for you.
5. Enrol - once your school approves your VET DSS application, you will be enrolled in the qualification at SWTAFE.