Hospitality Recruitment in Dunsborough, WA

Why Choose Cookatoo for Dunsborough Hospitality Recruitment?

Dunsborough sits at the heart of one of Australia's most visited coastal tourism regions, drawing guests who expect the quality of a destination dining experience in a laid-back beachside setting. The town's restaurants, boutique resorts, cellar doors and wine bars attract sophisticated visitors year-round, which means venues need permanent staff who can maintain high standards through peaks and quieter periods alike.

Cookatoo is based in Dunsborough and recruits for the South West from the inside. We understand what it takes to attract hospitality professionals who genuinely want to live and work in the region, not just spend a summer here. We place permanent Head Chefs, Restaurant Managers, Bar Managers and Front of House professionals in Dunsborough venues, matching candidates to the culture and pace of each specific operation.

Hiring hospitality staff in Dunsborough

Dunsborough sits in the South West WA region, where the Margaret River wine region alone attracts over 1.5 million overnight visitors a year, according to Tourism WA. Trading peaks from late November to the end of February, so the venues that are well staffed in December are the ones that start their permanent hiring in July or August.

Most experienced hospitality professionals live in Perth, so a South West role has to be worth the move. Pay at or near Perth rates is rarely enough on its own. Accommodation assistance is the most effective tool, and candidates who actively want the lifestyle are more likely to stay. A permanent head chef or restaurant manager who commits to the region gives you continuity across the full twelve months, not just the summer peak.

Read: summer hiring in South West WA

Cookatoo is a Perth-based hospitality recruitment agency founded by someone who has worked the industry from the ground up, starting as a dishwasher in Perth at 16, through to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. Every placement is permanent, and every recommendation is personal.

We don't fill seats. We find people who fit.

The ABS reports that hospitality has the highest job mobility rate of any Australian industry, at 15.4 per cent in the year to February 2026. SEEK research from 2026 puts the cost of one wrong hire at up to $16,000 for an Australian small business, and chefs, cooks and pastrycooks are all in shortage in WA. Permanent recruitment, done well, solves all three problems at once.