Cook

Duties

Published for unit group 3514 Cooks

• examining foodstuffs to ensure quality
• regulating temperatures of ovens, grills and other cooking equipment
• preparing and cooking food
• seasoning food during cooking
• portioning food, placing it on plates, and adding gravies, sauces and garnishes
• storing food in temperature controlled facilities
• preparing food to meet special dietary requirements
• may plan menus and estimate food requirements
• may train other kitchen staff and apprentices
• Occupation:
• 351411 Cook

This is what the occupation is, not what a skills assessment requires. The assessing body applies its own criteria on top of this, and those criteria are not published here. Check them with the body itself.

Who assesses this occupation

Last confirmed against the department's list on 9 September 2026.

This occupation reads differently for the 186 and 482

Two editions of ANZSCO are current at once, and the department applies ANZSCO 2022 to the employer sponsored visas while everything above follows ANZSCO 2013.

Under the 2022 edition this occupation is defined as:

Prepares, seasons and cooks food in a dining or catering establishment. Skill Level:

Its duties are also published differently:

• examining foodstuffs to ensure quality
• regulating temperatures of ovens, grills and other cooking equipment
• preparing and cooking food
• seasoning food during cooking
• portioning food, placing it on plates, and adding gravies, sauces and garnishes
• storing food in temperature controlled facilities
• preparing food to meet special dietary requirements
• may plan menus and estimate food requirements
• may train other kitchen staff and apprentices

If you are going for a 186 or a 482, this is the wording that governs you. Everything above governs the points tested routes.

Open roles at approved sponsors

34open roles at employers on an official sponsorship list have the words “Cook” in the job title, read from the employers' own job boards on 26 September 2026.

Being on a list means the employer holds an approval to sponsor, not that every role it advertises comes with sponsorship. The roles, and what each ad says about sponsorship, are in Vizard Jobs.

Where this comes from

Definition and duties: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO
Assessing authorities and skilled lists: Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list

Vizard is not a registered migration agent and nothing here is migration advice. It is published government information, organised. For advice on your own situation, speak to a registered migration agent.