INTERNATIONAL

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

CRICOS Code: 109764F
National Code: SIT30821

2025 2026

Description

Become a commercial cook with this comprehensive cookery course. Learn about kitchen operations and safety, menu planning and preparation, and a wide range of cooking techniques including meats and seafood, cakes and pastries, and desserts. If you have a passion for cooking and enjoy working in a team environment, this nationally-recognised qualification could be your pathway to a successful career. You’ll develop your cooking skills in our industry-standard commercial kitchens when you study at Regency Park or one of our regional campuses. By completing this qualification and obtaining appropriate industry experience you can apply for cookery trade recognition.

Duration (incl. holidays)

Semester(s)

Teaching Duration

Example Career Profile

Print Course Page

52 weeks

40 weeks

Chefs and Cooks

International Applications

Campus / Location

Study Mode

Contact Hours

Study Load

Commences

Scheduled

Regency Park

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

35 hours per week

Full Time

January, July

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On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

Full Time

Full Time classes

Day Classes

Day time classes

Evening Classes

Evening time classes

Course Admission Requirements
(for International Applications)

Academic IELTS score of 6.0 Overall with minimum of 5.0 in all bands or equivalent.
Satisfactory completion of Year 10 or overseas equivalent .

Work Placement Duration: 200 hours

International students must complete the 200 Vocational Placement hours within the 12-month duration of this course.

Course Notes

Students may wish to consider one of two TAFE SA packages:
1. Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, and the Diploma of Hospitality Management.
2. Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, Diploma of Hospitality Management and the Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management. Students would receive credit into the Bachelor.
This program has been developed to be delivered over a 12 month period made up of 2 semesters of study. The on campus requirement would be based on 3 full days per week for the majority of the course as well as between 4 to 6 weeks of lunch and dinner service which would cover 5 days on these allocated weeks. Note that you will be allocated to a group on campus for either our AM class (8am to 3.30pm) or (10.30am to 6.00pm) PM class. We make every effort to maintain this pattern, however there might be times the schedule would need to be altered, so therefore it is subject to change. Your vocational placement requirements sit outside of this on campus delivery.

Fees

These course fees are for international students only.

Duration

Tuition Fees

Incidental Fees^*

Semester 1

AUD $8220

AUD $1065^*

Semester 2

AUD $8220

Fee Totals

AUD $16440

AUD $1065^*

Total Course Cost

AUD $17505

* The $550 charge is for the Industry Placement Administration and Management Fee. Students will be required to purchase a name badge (A$10), a uniform (approximately A$115 excluding the cost of shoes) and equipment/knives (approximately A$390). Details for these expenses will be provided closer to or on commencement.

Note: TAFE SA course tuition and other fees/costs are subject to regular increases and are reviewed annually. TAFE SA accepts applications for courses commencing beyond the current year, course, tuition and other fees/costs for these years will apply once published. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to alter, amend or delete any fee, course, admission requirement, mode of delivery, duration or other arrangement without prior notice. If the study duration is extended beyond the period of the student’s visa the student will be liable for visa and related costs, eg medical examinations, OSHC and living expenses.

Overseas Students Health Cover

All overseas students are required to have Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC) insurance for the entire duration of the course. The health cover rate will vary depending on the personal circumstances and duration of stay in Australia. Read more about Overseas Students Health Cover.

Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

Employment Outcomes

This qualification provides a pathway to work as a commercial cook in a restaurant, hotel or hospital, sous chef in a small hospitality establishment, cook in aged care facilities (residential and retirement living).

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Qualifications & Skills Covered

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30821)
This course includes working effectively with others, food preparation equipment, basic methods of cookery, appetisers, salads, stocks, sauces, soups, poultry, seafood, meat, cakes, pastries, breads, planning and costing basic menus, desserts and food and workplace safety. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 20 core units and 5 elective units.

90%*
of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.

87%*
of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.

* 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

Course Units

Below is a list of all units that TAFE SA can offer in this qualification. The selection of elective units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend, and the qualification packaging rules described on www.training.gov.au.

Not all elective units listed below must necessarily be completed to achieve your qualification.

Core

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Clean kitchen premises and equipment	13	SABTD	SITHKOP009
Coach others in job skills	20	SABTZ	SITXHRM007
Participate in safe food handling practices.	40	SABTF	SITXFSA006
Participate in safe work practices	12	SABTH	SITXWHS005
Plan and cost recipes	40	SABWC	SITHKOP010
Prepare appetisers and salads	25	SABSZ	SITHCCC028
Prepare dishes using basic methods of cookery	45	SABSY	SITHCCC027
Prepare food to meet special dietary requirements	75	SABWB	SITHCCC042
Prepare meat dishes	55	SABZD	SITHCCC036
Prepare poultry dishes	35	SABZC	SITHCCC035
Prepare seafood dishes	35	SABZE	SITHCCC037
Prepare stocks, sauces and soups	35	SABTA	SITHCCC029
Prepare vegetable, fruit, eggs and farinaceous dishes	50	SABTB	SITHCCC030
Prepare vegetarian and vegan dishes	40	SABZB	SITHCCC031
Produce cakes, pastries and breads	55	SABZH	SITHCCC041
Produce desserts	100	SABWL	SITHPAT016
Receive, store and maintain stock	20	SABTG	SITXINV006
Use food preparation equipment	25	SABSW	SITHCCC023
Use hygienic practices for food safety	15	SABTE	SITXFSA005
Work effectively as a cook	100	SABZK	SITHCCC043

Elective

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Prepare and serve cheese	20	SABZG	SITHCCC040
Prepare Asian appetisers and snacks	45	SABST	SITHASC021
Prepare Asian sauces, dips and accompaniments	15	SABZA	SITHASC023
Prepare specialised food items	60	SABZL	SITHCCC044
Produce pates and terrines	30	SABZF	SITHCCC039

Living in Adelaide

The city created for students

You will never find another city like Adelaide. With welcoming locals, it is the perfect place for you to study, live and enjoy.

A student city

Adelaide is home to over 30,000 international students and has a strong and growing reputation as an education city. In addition to TAFE SA, Adelaide is home to six world-leading universities: The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Carnegie Mellon University, Torrens University Australia and CQ University Australia.

Safe

Adelaide’s crime rates are the lowest in the country and for that reason, Adelaide has previously been named the safest city in Australia.

Beach Culture

Adelaide’s pristine sandy beaches are just a 20 minute tram ride from the city centre. On hot summer days, you can study in the day and take the tram to have dinner at the beach and watch the sunset with friends.

Live centrally

Accommodation is more affordable in Adelaide than in other cities in Australia making it often possible for students to live in the heart of the city or just outside. This means more time is spent studying and less time travelling.

Delicious!

Adelaide is known for its cafe culture, with more cafes and restaurants by population than any other city in Australia. In recent years, Adelaide has also developed a vibrant and varied bar scene. The city is big enough that you will struggle to visit all of the places you would like to drink and eat in during in your first year of study. Our mix of cultures means there’s likely to be a supermarket that sells food from your home country too.

Easy to get around

Adelaide is a flat city so it is ideal for walking or cycling. Its grid layout makes it almost impossible to get lost! There are free trams and buses around the city centre. International students can show their ID to get cheaper tickets.

Festivals

Adelaide is known for its festivals, which are famous around the world. WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Fringe Festival and Cabaret Festival are just some of the international arts and music festivals that keep the city buzzing

Everyone agrees – Adelaide is a great place to live and study

Adelaide is recognised as one of the world’s most liveable cities. In 2014, Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel book ranked Adelaide in the global top ten. For the last four years Adelaide has been ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Beautiful weather

Adelaide has four distinct seasons, with moderate winters and warm to hot summers. In winter you will need woolly jumpers and jackets and in summer, shorts and t-shirts. The heat in South Australia is dry, rather than humid.