Who Can Enter
Apprentice and junior chefs, who are:
- Australian or New Zealand residents or a holder of a valid visa during the competition period (16th May — 11th September 2025)
- Aged from 16 and under 25 years on 31st December 2025
- A culinary student or currently employed (or recently employed within past 12 months) in a culinary profession (e.g. chef, cook, apprentice) and have the consent of their employer prior to entering.
Key Dates
10th March: Online Entry Opens
16th May: Online Entry Closes
June-July: Round 2 Regional and Metro Cook-offs
August: Regional & Metro Cook-off winners published on goldenchefs.com.au
8th – 9th September: Round 3 Grand Final Cook-offs
10th September: Industry Awards Night
How to Enter
Complete and submit the REGISTRATION FORM. You’ll then be directed to a page that will confirm your successful registration and receive a confirmation email.
YOU HAVE UNTIL 16th MAY (11.59pm AEST) TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION FORM.
Eligible entrants will then get to cook-off against other chefs at the regional heats (between June – July). You will be notified by 26th May of your assigned regional or metro cook-off.
The top 12 winning chefs from Round 2 across Australia and New Zealand will then go on to compete in Round 3: The Grand Final Cook-off, which will be held in the ACF Culinary Challenge Arena at Fine Food Australia in Sydney, NSW between 8th & 9th September 2025.
The finalists will be judged by a panel of Australian Culinary Federation & NZChefs accredited judges
The Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year & other category winners will be announced at an Industry Awards night on 10th September 2025.
Finalists need to be available from 6th – 11th September, 2025 inclusive. Reasonable travel costs including accommodation will be provided. Note: Date/location is subject to change.
At the grand finals, one chef will take out the Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year title and win an exclusive 14-day international culinary trip and work experience to Singapore and Thailand, valued at $12,000AUD!