Overview
Make your culinary dream a reality, with this hands-on commercial cookery course at VU Polytechnic.
This commercial cookery program is suitable for school leavers with little or no relevant work experience and mature-aged participants who are interested in developing a career in the hospitality industry.
Using a blend of online and practical skills development, this cooking course provides you with essential skills in the following areas:
- food preparation (poultry, meat, seafood, vegetables, dairy, fruits)
- desserts (cakes, pastries)
- menu planning and costing
- basic knife skills
- basic methods of cookery
- teamwork
- sustainable work practices
- food hygiene, food safety and OHS.
You will learn a range of practical skills and the latest trends and techniques used in the industry under the guidance of experienced chefs.
All non-apprentice students studying full time or part time are required to complete 48 service periods of work placement in a commercial kitchen.
On successful completion, you can choose to continue your cooking studies, and may find employment as a:
- commis chef
- sous chef.
It is important to note that students will be expected to follow standard recipes to prepare meat dishes using each of the following meat items: beef, game (kangaroo, venison, specialty meats), lamb, pork, veal and offal (kidney, liver). Students will be unable to successfully complete unit 'SITHCCC036: Prepare meat dishes' without meeting this requirement.
Part-time study option
The part-time training option (for domestic students only) is designed to accommodate participants already working in the industry and workers in other fields who are interested in developing a career in the hospitality industry.
The course is delivered through face-to-face workshops, structured learning activities in text-based units and work integrated learning. In workshops, students learn in classroom and in kitchen learning spaces. The course will be delivered in an interactive, hands-on model to engage learners and support skills development.
Timetable
The part-time course duration is 18 months, delivered over three semesters. Face-to-face workshops will be held every Saturday, 8am–4pm at our Footscray Nicholson hospitality training centre, VenU Restaurant.
Footscray Nicholson hospitality training centre
You'll gain hands-on experience working with the latest cooking equipment in the Footscray Nicholson hospitality training centre, VenU Restaurant, including:
- three state-of-the-art commercial kitchens with the latest cooking equipment
- two demonstration kitchens
- a training bar
- VenU: a 150-seat training restaurant.
VenU restaurant was awarded best training restaurant in Victoria at the Restaurant and Catering Awards.
Industry links
During your course you'll be exposed to our high-profile industry partners including:
- Delaware North
- Sebastian Restaurant and Bar
- Lucas Restaurants
- Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre
- Contiki
- Riverland Group.
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call backTAFE resources
-
Free TAFE
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
Careers
A cook (commercial) works under the instruction of the chef/sous chef/chef de partie in a commercial kitchen.
Possible career opportunities after completing this course include cooking and food preparation roles in:
- restaurants
- hotels
- clubs
- pubs
- cafes
- coffee shops.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
To be awarded the SIT30821 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery qualification, 25 units must be completed consisting of:
- 20 core units
- 5 elective units, of which:
- 3 units must be from Group A or Group B
- 2 units must be from Group A, Group B or Group C.
Students also undertake practical placement that includes 48 food service periods in a commercial kitchen.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
Core units
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC023
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC027
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC028
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC029
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC030
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC031
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC035
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC036
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC037
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC041
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC042
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC043
-
- Unit code
- SITHKOP009
-
- Unit code
- SITHKOP010
-
- Unit code
- SITHPAT016
-
- Unit code
- SITXFSA005
-
- Unit code
- SITXFSA006
-
- Unit code
- SITXHRM007
-
- Unit code
- SITXINV006
-
- Unit code
- SITXWHS005
Elective units
Group A - Cookery and Catering
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC025
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC038
-
- Unit code
- SITHCCC040
-
- Unit code
- SITHPAT014
Group B - Asian Cookery
-
- Unit code
- SITHASC021
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of commercial cooks who use a wide range of well-developed cookery skills and sound knowledge of kitchen operations to prepare food and menu items. Using discretion and judgement, they work with some independence and under limited supervision using plans, policies and procedures to guide work activities.
Completion of this qualification contributes to recognition as a trade cook.
Fees & scholarships
Fee type for this course: VET
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
Standard applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment.
Apprenticeship applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment
- must be employed as an apprentice
- must have an active Epsilon number prior to commencing the course.
Pathways from VU courses
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Available start dates:
- 2 January 2025
- 3 February 2025
- 8 February 2025
- 21 July 2025
Before you apply
Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.
Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:
- Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Apply direct to VU
Direct applications are due on 31 October 2025 for our next intake which starts on 2 January 2025.
Already a VU student?
If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.
After you apply
- It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
- Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered
Enquire now – TAFE
Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.
Get help
- Visit a student service centre
- 1300 VIC UNI (1300 842 864)
- Request a call back
- Visit the glossary
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
