How is Cookatoo different from other recruitment agencies?

Cookatoo was founded by Alexander Scrase, who spent 14 years working in hospitality, from cafes and fine dining in Perth to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. Every candidate is personally vetted by someone who has done the work themselves. We present a small, curated shortlist of people we would genuinely hire.

Hospitality Workforce Specialists · Perth & South West WA

Hospitality Recruitment Perth & South West WA - Build a Hospitality Team That Stays.

Cookatoo places permanent kitchen, front of house and venue management professionals in independent restaurants, hotels, bars, cafes and wineries across Perth and the South West. Every venue meets the Cookatoo Standard for how staff are treated, so the people we place stay.

Book a Free Consultation CallSee Our Process

✓Zero Upfront Risk✓Permanent Placements Only✓Hospitality Industry Only

Looking for your next hospitality role? Apply as a candidate →

0wk

rebate period

No Placement,

No Payment.

Elegant restaurant interior with warm lighting and bar seating in Perth, Western Australia

Guarantee

No Placement,

No Payment.

0wk

rebate period

Hospitality Workforce Specialists · Perth & South West WA

Hospitality Recruitment Perth & South West WA - Build a Hospitality Team That Stays.

Book a Free Consultation CallSee Our Process

✓Zero Upfront Risk✓Permanent Placements Only✓Hospitality Industry Only

Looking for your next hospitality role? Apply as a candidate →

0wk

rebate period

No Placement,

No Payment.

Guarantee

No Placement,

No Payment.

0wk

rebate period

Who We Work With

Across Every Corner of WA's Hospitality Scene

From Perth's hat-awarded fine diners to Margaret River cellar doors and South West neighbourhood favourites, Cookatoo places permanent staff across the full breadth of Western Australia's food and hospitality industry.

Head Chef Sous Chef Restaurant Manager Bar Manager Front of House Manager Sommelier Hotel Manager Events Manager Head Barista Cellar Door Manager

Currently viewing

Dining

Currently viewing

Bars & Wineries

Currently viewing

Hotels & Clubs

Currently viewing

Catering & Events

Currently viewing

Specialty Food

Not sure if your venue fits? get in touch and we'll let you know how we can help.

The Staffing Reality

Why Hospitality Staffing in Perth & South West WA Is So Hard to Get Right

Finding great hospitality professionals is only half the challenge. Keeping them is where most placements fail. We're built to solve both.

of hospitality workers leave within their first year (Australian HR Institute, 2024)

High staff turnover is not just a nuisance. It actively damages your team culture, disrupts service quality, and costs you far more than the placement fee.

0×

the annual salary, the true cost of a bad hire (SEEK Business Insights, 2024)

A bad hire carries hidden costs: lost productivity, rehiring, retraining, and team disruption. Industry estimates put the total impact at up to three times the role's salary.

0+ yrs

chefs and hospitality managers have been on WA's skills shortage list (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024)

Perth's geographic isolation limits the available talent pool, and WA's booming resources sector, where wages rose more than 20% in three years, competes directly for the same workers. SEEK alone cannot solve a structural shortage.

The reason our placements stay is not luck.

Every venue we recruit for has to clear eight published requirements before we take the brief. Salary on every role. Proper rosters. Paid trial shifts. Real wellbeing support. When candidates know the venue meets the Standard, they accept and they stay. That is what backs a 20 week guarantee.

See the Standard

See It for Yourself

What is turnover costing your team?

Team size8 staff

260

Average annual salary$65,000

$45k$120k

Annual staff turnover rate50%

10%120%

Industry research estimates each departure costs around 33% of annual salary in rehiring, training and lost productivity.

Your annual turnover cost

$85,800

per year in turnover costs

Staff leaving each year4 people

Cost per departure$21,450

Industry benchmark used33% of salary

Fix this with Cookatoo

Staff stay where they are treated well. That is why every venue we recruit for meets the Cookatoo Standard.

See It for Yourself

What does the wrong hire really cost?

Role salary$70,000

$40k$200k

Bad hires in the past year

Based on industry research estimating bad hire costs at 3× annual salary, including lost productivity, rehiring and retraining.

The cost comparison

$210,000

Cost of bad hire

Ask us

Cookatoo placement fee

Stop Losing Money on Bad Hires

Chef and bar staff working together at a Perth hospitality venue

Close-up of a perfectly made espresso at a Perth café

0wk

rebate guarantee

The Permanent Advantage

Why Permanent Placements in Perth & South West WA Win Every Time

Casuals plug gaps. Permanent staff build businesses. There's a fundamental difference in performance, loyalty, and the experience they deliver. Cookatoo exists to find you the latter.

A Cohesive Team Culture

Permanent staff invest in your business, build relationships with regulars, and elevate your service standards every single shift, because they see a future there.

Dramatically Lower Long-Term Costs

One quality permanent placement costs less over three years than the endless cycle of temp fees, agency premiums, and emergency cover that casual staffing demands.

Exceptional Guest Experiences

Guests notice when staff know their names, remember their preferences, and genuinely care. Only permanent employees build those relationships that keep guests coming back.

Protected by Our Guarantee

You only pay when we place the right person. With up to 20 weeks rebate or free replacement, your investment is protected long after day one.

Find Your Next Permanent Hire

Our Proven Approach

Our Perth & South West WA Recruitment Process: Brief to Brilliant Hire

We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on running your venue. Here's exactly what to expect when you work with Cookatoo.

Step 01

Free 15 Minute Consultation

We start with a free, no obligation 15 minute call to understand your business, the roles you need to fill, and any recruitment challenges you're facing. We'll walk you through how Cookatoo works, how we find candidates who fit your culture, and outline the next steps. You'll leave with a clear plan and no pressure.

Step 02

Role Brief: Online or by Call

Most employers choose our online brief: a private link sent after your consultation, completed at your own pace in under 10 minutes. Answer conversationally and our AI builds a complete, ready-to-approve job description. Prefer to talk it through? We offer a video discovery call instead. Same outcome, your choice.

Online brief route: you receive a private link immediately after your initial consultation. The brief works like a guided conversation and most employers complete it in under 10 minutes. Our AI generates a full job description which you can edit and approve directly in the browser before signing our agreements. Video call route: we guide the conversation through venue details, team culture, salary, hours, and what makes the ideal candidate. The call takes around 20 to 30 minutes and we capture everything as we talk. Either way, the approved job description becomes the benchmark our system uses to score every candidate in our talent pool against the role, objectively, before a recruiter reviews anyone.

Step 03

AI Targeted Hospitality Search

Our network activates alongside our AI powered candidate search. We use intelligent targeting to surface the right profiles across our database, social platforms and job boards, reaching top passive talent who are not actively looking. Every incoming application is automatically AI assessed against your approved job description, evaluating candidates objectively so every application is considered on merit alone.

Once your job description is approved, our system immediately scores every eligible candidate in our talent pool against it. Each CV is read by our AI, which assigns a relevance score and writes a one-line summary. The highest scoring candidates are reviewed by our team first. At the same time, targeted outreach campaigns reach hospitality professionals who are not actively looking but closely match the role. Every inbound application from job boards is also automatically pre-screened before a recruiter reviews it. The result: by the time your shortlist reaches your inbox, an objective filter has already removed the noise.

Step 04

Curated Shortlist Presented

You receive a shortlist of 3 to 5 thoroughly vetted candidates. Before anyone reaches your inbox, each has been phone screened by our team to gather further context and cleared a right-to-work verification. Every shortlisted candidate comes with our detailed recommendation.

Step 05

Interviews & Decision Support

We coordinate the entire interview process and stay close throughout, so you get expert advice at every step and make the right hire with complete confidence.

Step 06

Placement & Rebate Guarantee

Your new team member starts. We check in at 4 weeks and 12 weeks to ensure a smooth transition for both sides, and back every placement with up to 20 weeks rebate or a free replacement if things don't work out.

Book a Free Consultation Call

Alexander Scrase

Founder, Cookatoo

Meet the Founder

Built by Someone Who's Worked the Pass.

I started in hospitality at 16 in Perth, washing dishes, working the line, learning what it actually takes to run a kitchen and a floor under pressure. Over the next 14 years I worked my way through cafés, fine dining, and Michelin-starred kitchens across Perth and London.

Perth is where my love for this industry began, the energy of a busy service, the craft of a well-run venue, the people who make it what it is. So when I decided to move into recruitment, coming back to the city where it all started was never a question.

In London, I founded Cookaburra, a hospitality recruitment agency placing exceptional talent across some of the city's best venues. Two years later, I launched Cookatoo back in WA with the same approach, the same standard, and the same belief that great recruitment is personal.

Together, the two agencies are working to bridge the gap between Australia and the United Kingdom, two of the world's great hospitality markets. I won't put someone in front of you that I wouldn't hire myself.

14+

Years in hospitality

Age 16

Started in Perth

London

Michelin-starred kitchens

Perth WA

Founder, Cookatoo

Connect on LinkedIn

The Retention Case for Wellness

Hospitality has long carried a culture that takes more from people than it gives back. As the industry evolves and a younger generation moves away from that, the businesses that invest in their people beyond the payslip will be the ones that attract and keep the best talent.

That's why every candidate we place gets access to our Wellness Perks Portfolio, with discounted rates at gyms, studios, and wellbeing venues across Perth and the South West. And because culture is a team effort, we extend those same perks to your entire existing team at no extra cost.

Gyms Sauna Ice Baths Pilates Meditation Yoga Breathwork Steamrooms+ more

Industry avg

With wellness programs

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

% of employees still employed. Source: SHRM Workforce Research (2023), Deloitte Global Wellbeing Report (2024).

Google Reviews

What clients say about working with Alexander

Reviews from Alexander's recruitment work placing hospitality professionals in London

5.0· 13 reviews on Google

“Alex went out and found the perfect candidate for us. I can't thank you enough for the time and effort spent. I would recommend him to anyone looking to hire, the care and attentiveness has been perfect.”
ZW
Zara White
EmployerPomelo London
“Outstanding service and exceptional customer attention. Alex has been instrumental in helping our business by providing a wide range of excellent candidates. Their professionalism made the hiring process seamless and stress-free.”
TO
Tomas Oliveros
EmployerSpacetalk
“As a small business, we were weary of working with a recruiter, but Alex was a breath of fresh air and shared our philosophy of fostering sustainable, balanced and rewarding hospitality environments. Alex understood our needs and aligned our goals with the right candidate.”
KE
Kiki Evans
EmployerUnwined
“We together worked out whether I would be a great fit, I of course got the job and I'd very much say it felt like a team effort. In the future, if I'm ever looking for another placement, I wouldn't go anywhere else.”
SK
Sudais Knight
CandidatePlaced by Alexander
“As a jobseeker, I felt genuinely valued. Alex took the time to understand my skills and career aspirations, and matched me with opportunities that were a perfect fit. Thanks to his efforts, I was placed at La Maritxu, a position I am absolutely thrilled about.”
EB
Esmira Bairamova
CandidatePlaced at La Maritxu
“Highly recommend Alexander and his team. They have frequently sent me help at short notice and the chefs they've sent have all been absolutely fantastic, going above and beyond and working brilliantly with my existing team.”
JB
James Blunt
Employer
“Really awesome placement. Alex helped me find a job that met all my requirements. Even though he's a recruiter, he made sure the process was smooth and checked up on me along the way. I highly recommend him.”
KB
Kevin Botha
CandidatePlaced at Unwined
“Alex has been an outstanding partner in our recruitment efforts. He consistently provides top-notch candidates who are not only skilled but also a great fit for our team culture. His extensive network and deep industry knowledge have been invaluable.”
LL
Lucia Larragoiti Fisher
EmployerLa Maritxu London
“I am extremely grateful to Alex for helping me secure a fantastic job. His intervention was instrumental in getting me hired. He is 100% trustworthy and dedicated to helping you succeed.”
VV
Vishnu V S
CandidatePlaced at SpaceTalk
“I have received brilliant communication and services. Alex is very attentive and shares brilliant information. He offers great support and attention to detail, a well-deserved 5-star rating!”
RG
Rosie Gulbis
CandidatePlaced at Forge Coffee
“Alex connects top talents with leading hospitality employers. His friendly, personalised service and industry expertise make the job search enjoyable and successful.”
ST
Sandra Torrano Marcos
CandidatePlaced by Alexander
“Alex was great! He found me a sous chef position in a company perfect for what I was looking for. He made sure it was the right fit and that I would be happy long term. Outstanding.”
RL
Rachel Lunn
CandidatePlaced at Pomelo
“Very useful service, would recommend to anyone in the hospitality industry looking for chefs.”
A
Alysia
EmployerBelle Époque Patisserie
“Alex went out and found the perfect candidate for us. I can't thank you enough for the time and effort spent. I would recommend him to anyone looking to hire, the care and attentiveness has been perfect.”
ZW
Zara White
EmployerPomelo London
“Outstanding service and exceptional customer attention. Alex has been instrumental in helping our business by providing a wide range of excellent candidates. Their professionalism made the hiring process seamless and stress-free.”
TO
Tomas Oliveros
EmployerSpacetalk
“As a small business, we were weary of working with a recruiter, but Alex was a breath of fresh air and shared our philosophy of fostering sustainable, balanced and rewarding hospitality environments. Alex understood our needs and aligned our goals with the right candidate.”
KE
Kiki Evans
EmployerUnwined
“We together worked out whether I would be a great fit, I of course got the job and I'd very much say it felt like a team effort. In the future, if I'm ever looking for another placement, I wouldn't go anywhere else.”
SK
Sudais Knight
CandidatePlaced by Alexander
“As a jobseeker, I felt genuinely valued. Alex took the time to understand my skills and career aspirations, and matched me with opportunities that were a perfect fit. Thanks to his efforts, I was placed at La Maritxu, a position I am absolutely thrilled about.”
EB
Esmira Bairamova
CandidatePlaced at La Maritxu
“Highly recommend Alexander and his team. They have frequently sent me help at short notice and the chefs they've sent have all been absolutely fantastic, going above and beyond and working brilliantly with my existing team.”
JB
James Blunt
Employer
“Really awesome placement. Alex helped me find a job that met all my requirements. Even though he's a recruiter, he made sure the process was smooth and checked up on me along the way. I highly recommend him.”
KB
Kevin Botha
CandidatePlaced at Unwined
“Alex has been an outstanding partner in our recruitment efforts. He consistently provides top-notch candidates who are not only skilled but also a great fit for our team culture. His extensive network and deep industry knowledge have been invaluable.”
LL
Lucia Larragoiti Fisher
EmployerLa Maritxu London
“I am extremely grateful to Alex for helping me secure a fantastic job. His intervention was instrumental in getting me hired. He is 100% trustworthy and dedicated to helping you succeed.”
VV
Vishnu V S
CandidatePlaced at SpaceTalk
“I have received brilliant communication and services. Alex is very attentive and shares brilliant information. He offers great support and attention to detail, a well-deserved 5-star rating!”
RG
Rosie Gulbis
CandidatePlaced at Forge Coffee
“Alex connects top talents with leading hospitality employers. His friendly, personalised service and industry expertise make the job search enjoyable and successful.”
ST
Sandra Torrano Marcos
CandidatePlaced by Alexander
“Alex was great! He found me a sous chef position in a company perfect for what I was looking for. He made sure it was the right fit and that I would be happy long term. Outstanding.”
RL
Rachel Lunn
CandidatePlaced at Pomelo
“Very useful service, would recommend to anyone in the hospitality industry looking for chefs.”
A
Alysia
EmployerBelle Époque Patisserie

Pricing & Packages

Perth & South West WA Hospitality Recruitment Packages

Both packages include our placement guarantee and are priced at a competitive commission based on the candidate's first-year salary.

✓Zero Upfront Risk✓No Placement, No Payment✓Free Replacement Within Rebate✓Up to 20 Week Rebate

Professional

Our foundation service. We handle the full search: consultation call, role brief, AI generated job description, advertising, screening, right to work checks, salary benchmarking and interview coordination. You receive a curated shortlist of two to three people worth meeting, with performance tracking and a 12 week rebate to protect your investment.

Free 15-minute consultation call
Video discovery call or online role brief (your choice)
AI generated job description for your review and approval
Salary benchmarking
Online & social media advertising
Professional candidate sourcing

Get Started

Commission % of first-year salary · confirmed on consultation call

Recommended

Premium

Everything in Professional, extended. Premium advertising, targeted headhunting, cultural fit assessment, contract review and a dedicated senior consultant from brief to handover. Our 20-week rebate period and retention consultation give you the deepest level of confidence in every hire.

Everything in Professional, plus:
Premium online advertisement
Targeted sourcing & headhunting
Cultural fit assessment
Contract review & advice
3–5 thoroughly vetted shortlist

Book a Free Consultation Call

Commission % of first-year salary · confirmed on consultation call

Not sure which package suits your needs? Book a free consultation call and we'll guide you through the right choice.

Our Wellness Partners

Let's Talk

Ready to Build a Team That Actually Stays?

Book a free 15-minute consultation using the calendar, or send your details below and we'll get back to you within one business day. You'll also receive a copy of our Salary Benchmark Guide for 2026.

Send an Enquiry

We'll respond within one business day.

Guaranteed: if a placement doesn't work out, we offer a rebate or free replacement for up to 20 weeks.

Looking for work? This form is for venues hiring staff. Apply as a candidate instead

Book a 15-Minute Call

Free, no-obligation consultation call.

Can't see the calendar? Book directly on Calendly

Common Questions

Everything You Need to Know.

Cookatoo operates on a success-only basis, you pay a placement fee only when we successfully place a candidate who starts in the role. There are no upfront costs, retainers or subscription fees. Our fee is a competitive percentage of the placed candidate's first-year salary, discussed and agreed before we begin.

We recruit across Perth metro, including Fremantle, Northbridge, Subiaco, South Perth, Scarborough, Cottesloe, Claremont and Joondalup, as well as the South West WA region, including Margaret River, Busselton, Dunsborough, Bunbury, Yallingup, Pemberton, Manjimup and Augusta.

We specialise in permanent placements across all front and back of house roles: Head Chef, Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, Restaurant Manager, Front of House Manager, Bar Manager, Barista, Events Coordinator, Hotel Manager and Sommelier. If your role is not listed, get in touch, we are happy to discuss.

No. Cookatoo focuses exclusively on permanent placements. Our belief is that high turnover is one of the biggest problems in hospitality, and that permanent hires are the most effective solution. If you need long-term stability in your team, we are the right fit.

Our Professional package includes a 12-week rebate period or free replacement if a placement does not work out. Our Premium package extends this to a 20-week rebate period or free replacement, giving you greater protection on senior or hard-to-fill roles.

You have two options. If you prefer a conversation, book a video discovery call and we walk through your venue, culture, and the role together on screen. We capture everything during the call and send you a private link for final paperwork only. If you would rather work in your own time, we send you a private link to our online role brief. It works like a conversation and most employers complete it in under 10 minutes. Either way, our AI generates a complete job description from the brief for you to review, edit, and approve before we begin the search.

Timelines vary depending on the role and how quickly candidates are available, but most placements are completed within 2 to 4 weeks from brief to accepted offer. Senior or specialist roles may take a little longer. We will give you a realistic timeframe at the start of every engagement.

✓In-depth interview covering work history, motivations, culture preferences and career goals.
✓Reference verification with previous employers to confirm experience and work ethic.
✓Practical assessment against the specific demands of your role and venue type.
✓Personal endorsement: we only present candidates we would genuinely hire ourselves.
✓You will never receive a bulk CV drop. Every shortlist is curated.

Cookatoo was founded by Alexander Scrase, who spent 14 years working in hospitality, from cafes and fine dining in Perth to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. We recruit from the inside out: every candidate is personally vetted by someone who has done the work themselves. We do not bulk-send CVs. We present a small, curated shortlist of people we would genuinely hire.

Where We Operate

Proudly Serving Perth & South West WA

Cookatoo is a Western Australian recruitment agency, built for Western Australian hospitality. We know the venues, the market, and the talent because we're part of it.

Perth Metro

Service Area

From Fremantle's waterfront dining to the CBD's rooftop bars and inner-suburb neighbourhood gems, we recruit across every Perth suburb and style of venue.

Perth CBD Fremantle Subiaco Leederville Mount Lawley Northbridge South Perth Cottesloe Nedlands Claremont Scarborough Victoria Park Applecross Joondalup Mandurah Midland Cockburn

South West WA

Service Area

Margaret River, Busselton, Dunsborough and beyond. We understand the seasonal rhythms and year-round staffing needs of WA's most celebrated wine and food region.

Margaret River Busselton Dunsborough Yallingup Bunbury Cowaramup Pemberton Augusta Manjimup

Based outside these areas? Get in touch and we'd love to hear from you.

From the Blog

Hospitality Recruitment Insights

Industry News

Fair Work Act Essentials for Perth Hospitality Employers

The Fair Work Act sets the legal framework for every employment relationship in your WA hospitality business. Here is what operators need to understand and stay on top of.

10 July 20269 min read

Recruitment

Hiring in Margaret River & the South West

The South West WA hospitality market operates by its own rules. Venues in Margaret River, Busselton, and Dunsborough face a distinctive set of hiring challenges that require a different approach.

26 June 20268 min read

Industry News

WA's Hospitality Skills Shortage Explained

The skills shortage in WA hospitality is real, persistent, and not going away on its own. Here is how Perth's strongest operators are adapting, and what is actually working.

12 June 20269 min read

View all articles