By improving connections between sectors and moving beyond fragmented decision-making, governments can reshape the future of the care economy. Such reforms would raise the standard of care while also making service delivery more efficient. The report points to three major areas where reform can drive lasting productivity gains.

1. Reform of quality and safety regulation

•  Make food and nutrition care a core part of quality and safety standards.
• Ensure Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are embedded in regulation, accreditation and audits.
• Safeguard against inappropriate role substitution by recognising APDs’ expertise.

2. Embed collaborative commissioning

• Include APDs in joint governance and commissioning committees.
• Build nutrition-focused community programs with flexible, dedicated funding.
• Use nutrition-related performance indicators to measure outcomes and reduce preventable hospitalisations.

3. National prevention investment framework

• Recognise nutrition as a cornerstone of prevention across the lifespan.
• Establish long-term funding and targets for food and nutrition initiatives, including in rural areas.
• Appoint nutrition leadership in government to drive prevention and improve public health outcomes.

To read more, download our full submission.