Free menu and mealtime reviews for aged care homes
Under the Menu and Mealtime Review Program, residential aged care homes can get a free, onsite review by an accredited practising dietitian.
This will help homes to:
- improve the food and dining experience for residents
- meet the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, including Standard 6: Food and nutrition, which commenced under the Aged Care Act 2024 on 1 November 2025.
- You can express interest in a review for the 2026-27 financial year now. All residential aged care services can participate. This includes National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program providers.
Free workforce education and training
Maggie Beer Foundation training
A free education and training program through the Maggie Beer Foundation is available to cooks, chefs and food service staff working in aged care homes. The program aims to:
- educate aged care chefs and cooks on how to source, prepare and serve more nutritious and delicious food
- improve dining experiences for residents
- increase positive responses for Residents’ Experience Surveys
- help providers meet the dedicated food and nutrition Aged Care Quality Standard under the Aged Care Act
- help providers meet the quality indicators related to nutrition.
All training and education opportunities are available for residential aged care, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFAC) and Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) providers.
The following training options are available:
- 17 online learning modules open to anyone – topics include:
- hydration
- texture-modified diets
- regeneration of cook-chill
- cooking in the community
- dining with dementia
- meals with meaning – person centred care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- online training hubs – interactive short courses that bring aged care chefs and cooks together to learn practical skills from expert chef trainers
- Trainer Mentor Program – participating kitchen teams in individual aged care homes receive onsite mentoring by a professional chef trainer
- a professional community to share experience, knowledge and support – this is open to people who have completed any of the program activities.
Find out more or register for these activities.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission training
Free training on food, nutrition and dining is available through the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s online learning portal Alis.
Dietary guidelines for people aged 65 years and over
We are funding the National Health and Medical Research Council to develop new dietary guidelines and resources for people aged 65 years and over.
We are also funding the Australian Frailty Network within the University of Queensland to develop new dietary guidelines for frail older adults.
These guidelines will support good nutritional intake and reduce the malnutrition risk for older people.
More information
See also the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s:
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