Pastry Cook/Chef

About Us

Golden Nugget Bakery is a well-established local bakery in Ballarat, combining a traditional bakery and café experience with our signature drive-thru service. Since 1978, we have grown into a popular community institution, employing around 80 staff across our Ballarat stores. We pride ourselves on high-quality baked goods, friendly customer service, and a supportive team environment.

We are now looking for a dedicated Pastry Cook / Pastry Chef to join our Ballarat team and help us continue delivering premium sweet and savoury products to our community. Prepare, bake, and finish a range of pastries and baked goods including pies, tarts, cakes, slices, biscuits, and desserts. Prepare and work with pastry doughs (shortcrust, puff, sweet, and savoury), fillings, custards, creams, and icings.

Mix, mould, shape, assemble, decorate, and present products to consistent quality standards. Operate pastry and baking equipment safely; monitor ovens, baking times, product quality, and consistency. Coordinate daily production runs to meet retail demand, including preparation, baking, cooling, and finishing. Ensure hygiene, cleanliness, and food-safety compliance at all times (clean equipment, trays, benches, and maintain a safe working environment).

Assist with stock control, check quality of raw ingredients, and manage waste and clean-up procedures.

Requirements

Certificate III in Patisserie (or equivalent) — e.g. SIT31021 Certificate III in Patisserie — or a minimum of 2 years’ relevant on-the-job training. Experience (e.g. 3 years) may substitute for formal qualifications. Previous experience in a bakery or pastry-production environment. A strong understanding of food safety and sanitation practices.

Ability to work early mornings, weekends, and a roster system common in bakery operations. Good time-management skills, ability to work under time constraints and as part of a team. Attention to detail, stamina and a positive attitude. A passion for quality baking and willingness to learn and grow as part of our team.

Benefits

A friendly, supportive and community-oriented workplace. Opportunity to work with an established local bakery with decades of local trust and reputation. On-the-job training and potential for career growth within our bakery network. Exposure to a variety of bakery techniques (bread, pastries, cakes, etc.) A chance to contribute to a bakery that serves many local Ballarat customers daily.

Please send your resume + cover letter outlining your baking experience and availability to: admin@goldennuggetbakery.com.au We look forward to meeting passionate bakers keen to join our Golden Nugget Bakery family and help us deliver great baked goods to Ballarat.