Total number of units = 33

• 14 core units
• 19 elective units

• Seeking to pursue or further a career in tourism and/or commercial cookery;
• Seeking to enter a new industry sector;
• Seeking a pathway to higher level qualifications.

Unit 22, Level 4, 28 University Avenue, Canberra, ACT, 2601

The practical kitchen is located at:

14 Purdue Street, Belconnen ACT 2617

This qualification will be delivered over 88 weeks of training and assessment and a total 16 weeks of term breaks.

Age requirements

Students must be a minimum age of 18 years or above at the time of course commencement.

Academic Requirements

To enter this qualification, applicants should have successfully completed the equivalent of Australian Year 12 or Certificate III or higher. 

English Language Requirements

To enter this qualification, applicants must also meet English Language Requirements – IELTS overall score of 6.0 or TOEFL IBT 60 or Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) 52 or PTE Academic 50 or equivalent (test results must be no more than 2 years old). English language competence can also be demonstrated through documented evidence of any of the following:

• Minimum five (5) years of study in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America, South Africa or Republic of Ireland.
• Successfully completion of an English Placement test.
• Completed a recognized ELICOS program and achieved an English Proficiency level of upper intermediate or equivalent.
• Completed in Australia in English is a substantial component (at least 50%) of a qualification at AQF level 4 or higher.

Direct entry is allowed for all SIT Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Training Package qualifications 

For all other qualifications, individuals may enter the qualification with no vocational experience, without prior achievement of any units of competency and without a lower level qualification in any discipline. The tourism, travel and hospitality industries, however, highly recommend that individuals complete the relevant Certificate III qualification and gain vocational experience in industry before progressing to a Certificate IV qualification. Certificate IV qualifications provide for the acquisition of more senior or supervisory skills. Industry has an expectation that people in supervisory roles would have gained workplace experience in operational duties before coordinating the duties of others. Industry also strongly recommends that individuals complete the relevant Certificate III qualification and gain vocational experience in industry before progressing to a Diploma or Advanced Diploma. These higher level qualifications provide for the acquisition of managerial skills at an operational and strategic level. Industry has an expectation that individuals would have gained workplace experience in operational duties before progressing to managerial roles of significant responsibility.

Employment/Career pathway

This qualification reflects the role of commercial cooks who have a managerial or team leading role in the kitchen. They operate independently or with limited guidance from others and use discretion to solve non-routine problems. This qualification provides a pathway to work in organisations such as restaurants, hotels, clubs, pubs, cafes and coffee shops, or to run a business in these sectors. Possible job titles include:

Area Manager; Motel Manager; operations Manager.

Employment opportunities include:

Manager/Owner/Chef (Small Restaurant or Cafe)

Executive Chef/Manager/General Manager/Food and Beverage Manager (Large Hotel)

Related occupations

Area Manager

Motel Manager

Operations Manager

Related industry sectors

Hospitality, Services Industry