Food and nutrition have officially become a legal cornerstone of aged care in Australia, with new national standards making dietitian oversight a mandatory part of residential care.
Under the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, now in force, every residential aged care provider must have their menus and mealtime experiences reviewed by an accredited practising dietitian at least once a year.
The move is being hailed as a landmark moment for aged care reform, one that places the quality of meals and nutrition on equal footing with safety, dignity and clinical care.
“This is a pivotal moment in history for Australian aged care and dietitians who are ready to work much more closely with the sector,” said Dietitians Australia President Dr Fiona Willer.
“For the first time, food and nutrition has a dedicated quality standard, backed by legislation, and accredited practising dietitians are legally recognised as a cornerstone of quality, safe, and enjoyable food and nutrition in aged care.”
A Major Step for Resident Wellbeing
Dr Willer said improved nutrition is not just a lifestyle issue, it’s also a matter of health and dignity.
“We know better nutrition in aged care is a health investment – it reduces malnutrition, dehydration, falls, pressure injuries, wounds, and unnecessary hospitalisations for residents in care,” she said.
“Weight loss and malnutrition should not be considered a normal part of ageing. These are health-related red flags that cannot be ignored.”
The strengthened standards aim to ensure residents are offered food that suits their individual needs and preferences — including texture, dexterity, and cultural considerations.
“Good nutrition helps older people maintain energy levels, their strength, mobility and independence – it also supports memory and thinking skills and vastly improves their quality of life in their ageing years,” Dr Willer said.
Dietitians Australia said many providers had already begun working with dietitians ahead of the reform, preparing for the rollout of the new Quality Standard 6 on Food and Nutrition.
“We know many providers have already embraced the new Quality Standard 6 on Food and Nutrition in the lead up to this legislative change, and we thank all those in the aged care sector and the dietitians who support them for their transformative work to date,” Dr Willer said.
She said the organisation hopes to see “more and more aged care providers, chefs, cooks and staff” collaborate with dietitians to deliver meals that are both nutritious and tailored.
While celebrating the reform, Dietitians Australia is urging the government to go further, including more frequent malnutrition screening and expanded funding for dietetic care.
“We are continuing to advocate to the Government for an increase in allied health dietetic care minutes, and we would like to see a move towards quarterly malnutrition screening of residents, not just on admission to care,” Dr Willer said.
She added that while the legislative milestone marks a new era, the work to end malnutrition in aged care is ongoing.
“We know there is more work to do to make malnutrition in aged care history. We deeply urge the Government and Aged Care providers to continue to embrace the expertise of dietitians widely across the sector.”
As the new standards take hold, Dr Willer said she looks forward to seeing “growing numbers of older Australians nourished and finding joy in every mealtime.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
