The New Aged Care Standards Are Now in Place: What This Means for Food, Nutrition and Mealtime Care
As of 1 November 2025, the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are officially in effect across Australia. These reforms, introduced alongside the new Aged Care Act 2024, have reshaped the expectations for quality and safety in aged care- with food, nutrition and mealtime experience now firmly recognised as core elements of care. For aged care providers, this means the transition period is over. The Standards are now the benchmark for daily practice, care planning, documentation, and audit compliance.
Standard 6 – Food and Nutrition: What’s Now Required
Under the strengthened Standards, providers must be able to demonstrate, in real time and with evidence, that residents receive safe, nutritious, enjoyable food and drinks that meet their clinical needs and personal preferences.
To comply, facilities are now expected to show:
· Nutrition and hydration assessments are completed on admission and reviewed regularly.
· Menus are dietitian-approved, nutritionally adequate, and adaptable for cultural, religious and personal preferences.
· Texture-modified and fortified meals meet IDDSI and safety standards.
· Dining environments promote dignity, social connection and choice (not just food delivery).
· Staff are trained and competent in mealtime assistance, swallowing safety and hydration support.
· Resident feedback and involvement are part of menu planning and service review.
Auditors will now assess both documentation and what happens in real life- observing mealtimes, speaking with residents, reviewing care plans and staff knowledge.
Why Dietitians Are More Essential Than Ever
With the Standards now active, dietitians are central to ensuring compliance, safety and quality of life in aged care. Dietitians support providers by:
· Completing nutrition and swallowing assessments and updating care plans.
· Signing off menus and ensuring meals meet nutritional, cultural and texture needs.
· Training care and kitchen staff in IDDSI, malnutrition prevention and mealtime support.
· Conducting mealtime audits, reviewing intake, weight loss trends and hydration.
· Leading continuous improvement — documenting risks, actions and outcomes for audits.
· Partnering with residents and families to support preferences, dignity and enjoyment.
What Providers Should Be Doing Now
Now that the Standards have commenced, aged care services should be:
Auditing current food, nutrition and hydration practices against Standard 6.
Ensuring every resident has a current nutrition assessment and plan.
Reviewing menus with a qualified dietitian, particularly texture-modified and fortified options.
Checking that staff training and competency evidence is documented and up to date.
Gathering resident feedback and using it for continuous improvement.
Engaging the service of high-quality dietetics services, who can provide consistent and regular services and know the facility and the residents who call it home well.
If any of these steps are missing, now is the time to act, before non-compliance becomes a regulatory problem.
Moving Forward: Beyond Compliance
These Standards are about respecting older people’s rights to dignity, enjoyment, independence and proper nourishment. Food is more than fuel- it is comfort, culture, memory and connection. When done well, mealtimes become an anchor in a resident’s day.
At Eat Well 4 Life, we help aged care providers bring this to life through:
Resident nutrition assessments and care planning
Providing nutrition support plans for residents who require extra help in managing nutrition and hydration
Menu and mealtime audits
Dietitian-approved menu reviews
Staff training in nutrition and mealtime care
Documentation and audit support for compliance
If you’d like support meeting the new Standards, or want to improve mealtime quality in your facility, get in touch. Together, we can ensure that nutrition in aged care is not only compliant but meaningful.