FIFO kitchen hand roles offer hospitality workers a pathway into the mining industry without needing trade qualifications or machinery tickets. Mining camps across Australia serve thousands of meals daily, and experienced kitchen hands who can handle the volume and pace of camp catering are always in demand. With salaries ranging from $65,000 to $85,000+ on FIFO rosters, these roles pay significantly more than equivalent city hospitality positions.
Your resume needs to demonstrate food safety knowledge, experience with high-volume catering, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced kitchen environment. This guide walks you through creating a FIFO kitchen hand resume that appeals to camp catering companies and mining services providers.
Quick Stats
Salary Range: $65,000 - $85,000+ (including FIFO allowances) Work Arrangement: FIFO (typically 2/1, 8/6, or even time rosters) Key Certifications: Food Safety Certificate, First Aid, White Card
FIFO Kitchen Hand Resume Example
Luke Brennan
Kitchen Hand / Food Services
Professional Summary
Experienced kitchen hand with 5+ years working in high-volume commercial kitchens and catering operations. Proven ability to prepare, plate, and present meals for 200+ covers per service while maintaining strict food safety and hygiene standards. Holds current Food Safety Supervisor certificate and First Aid qualification. Physically fit, reliable, and experienced with shift work including early starts, split shifts, and weekend rosters. Committed to FIFO work arrangements.
Employment History
Kitchen Hand / Food Prep
Crown Perth - Convention Centre, Perth, WA
- Prepare mise en place and assist chefs with food preparation for banquet events serving 300-500 guests
- Operate commercial dishwashers, maintain pot wash area, and ensure kitchen cleanliness throughout service
- Follow HACCP food safety procedures and maintain temperature logs for all cold and hot storage
- Assist with goods receival, stock rotation (FIFO method), and cool room organisation
Kitchen Hand
Sodexo - Hospital Catering, Perth, WA
- Assisted with meal preparation and plating for 400+ patient meals per service across dietary requirements
- Maintained commercial kitchen to food safety audit standards, consistently achieving 95%+ scores
- Operated industrial kitchen equipment including combination ovens, tilting pans, and blast chillers
- Completed early morning shifts starting at 4:30am for breakfast service preparation
Cafe All-Rounder
The Coffee Club, Perth, WA
- Performed kitchen hand duties including food preparation, dishwashing, and cleaning
- Prepared basic cafe menu items and assisted with coffee service during peak periods
- Managed opening and closing procedures including cleaning schedules and stock counts
- Maintained food safety compliance and completed regular cleaning audits
Education
Certificate II in Kitchen Operations
TAFE WA, Perth, WA
Certifications & Training
Skills
Bullet Point Assistant
1. What did you do?
2. What metric did you improve and in what time span?
3. Connect your action to your strategy.
Key Sections of a FIFO Kitchen Hand Resume
Professional Summary
Your summary should immediately establish your food service credentials and volume experience. Camp catering managers need to know you can handle the pace.
Strong Summary Elements
- +Mention cover numbers and volume experience
- +Reference food safety certifications upfront
- +Show willingness for FIFO and early starts
- +Highlight specific kitchen environments worked in
Avoid These Weaknesses
- -Generic 'hospitality experience' with no specifics
- -No mention of food safety qualifications
- -No reference to shift work or early starts
- -Missing volume or scale indicators
Employment History Tips
Focus your work history on aspects that translate directly to camp catering:
- Volume and scale - Number of covers, meals per service, guest counts
- Food safety - HACCP compliance, audit scores, temperature monitoring
- Equipment - Commercial dishwashers, combination ovens, blast chillers
- Shift work - Early starts, split shifts, weekend and public holiday work
Volume Matters Most
Camp kitchens serve hundreds of meals per sitting, three times a day. If you've worked in a high-volume kitchen (hotel banquets, hospital catering, large restaurants), emphasise the scale. "Assisted with meal preparation for 400+ meals per service" is much stronger than "worked in a kitchen."
Essential Certifications
Must-Have Certifications for Camp Kitchen Hands
- Food Safety Supervisor Certificate (SITSS00069 or equivalent)
- First Aid Certificate
- White Card (Construction Induction)
- Manual Handling
- Responsible Service of Alcohol (some camps have a wet mess)
- Certificate II in Kitchen Operations (beneficial but not essential)
Skills to Highlight
Essential Kitchen Hand Skills
Food Preparation:
- Mise en place and basic food prep
- Plating and presentation for volume service
- Salad and sandwich preparation
- Fruit and vegetable processing
- Following recipes and dietary requirement procedures
Kitchen Operations:
- Commercial dishwasher operation
- Pot wash and kitchen cleaning
- Goods receival and stock rotation
- Cool room and dry store management
- Temperature monitoring and logging
Equipment:
- Combination ovens (Rational, Blue Seal)
- Tilting pans and bratt pans
- Commercial dishwashers (Hobart, Winterhalter)
- Blast chillers and bain-maries
- Industrial vacuum packaging machines
Compliance:
- HACCP food safety procedures
- Allergen awareness and management
- Cleaning schedules and chemical handling
- Pest control awareness
- Waste management and recycling
Understanding FIFO Camp Kitchen Roles
What Camp Kitchen Hands Do
Mining camp kitchens operate like large-scale restaurants, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and crib (late night meal) to hundreds of workers daily. Kitchen hands typically:
- Assist chefs with food preparation and mise en place
- Operate the pot wash area and commercial dishwashers
- Set up and break down buffet service stations
- Maintain kitchen cleanliness throughout all services
- Handle goods receival and stock rotation
- Prepare sandwiches, salads, and simple menu items
- Clean cool rooms, dry stores, and storage areas
Camp Kitchen vs City Kitchen
| City Kitchen | FIFO Camp Kitchen |
|---|---|
| 8-hour shifts typical | 10-12 hour shifts, roster-based |
| Variable covers | 200-1000+ meals per sitting |
| Standard pay rates | $65K-$85K+ with FIFO allowances |
| Daily commute | Live on-site in accommodation village |
| Menu variety focus | Volume, consistency, and dietary needs |
"I hire kitchen hands who can keep up with the pace. We're serving 600 workers three meals a day plus crib. I need someone who can prep fast, keep the dish pit running, and maintain food safety standards without being told. If you've worked in hotel banquets or hospital catering, you already understand the volume."
Who Hires Camp Kitchen Hands
Camp catering is managed by specialist food services companies:
- ESS (Compass Group) - Largest camp catering provider nationally
- Sodexo - International food services company
- Morris Corporation - WA-based camp catering specialist
- Cater Care - Mining and remote site catering
- Eurest (Compass Group) - Resources sector catering
Career Progression from Kitchen Hand
FIFO kitchen hand roles can lead to strong career progression within camp services:
- Kitchen Hand - Entry-level, food prep and cleaning
- Senior Kitchen Hand / Cook's Assistant - More food prep responsibility
- Camp Cook / Chef de Partie - Cooking and menu preparation
- Head Chef / Executive Chef - Kitchen management
- Catering Manager - Full camp food services management
Upskill On-Site
Many camp catering companies offer internal training and apprenticeship pathways. Starting as a kitchen hand and showing initiative can lead to a cooking apprenticeship funded by your employer, with mining-level wages throughout.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Strong Resume Elements
- +Food safety qualifications prominently listed
- +Volume experience clearly quantified
- +Shift work and early start experience mentioned
- +Specific equipment and kitchen types referenced
Weaknesses to Address
- -No food safety certificate mentioned
- -Missing volume or scale indicators
- -No indication of shift work adaptability
- -Generic 'kitchen experience' without specifics
Ready to Apply?
FIFO kitchen hand roles offer excellent pay and a genuine pathway into the mining industry. With a food safety certificate, relevant hospitality experience, and a resume that highlights your volume capabilities, you can secure a camp catering position that pays well above city rates.
Next Steps
- Obtain your Food Safety Supervisor Certificate
- Complete your First Aid and White Card
- Update your resume using this guide
- Browse camp catering jobs on Resource Jobs
- Register with camp catering companies directly
Looking for more mining resume examples? Check out our guides for FIFO Camp Cleaner, FIFO & Entry-Level Mining, Haul Truck Operator, and Boilermaker roles.