Senator the Honourable Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, today shared how dietitians are a key part in creating generational change in aged care to ensure older Australians are adequately nourished.

Sent September 2021 - Dietitians Australia wrote to Ged Kearney MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, to thank her both for a productive meeting and her recommendation for a follow up meeting with Shadow Minister Linda Burney to discuss issues related to food security in Indigenous comunities.

Sent January 2021 - Dietitians Australia wrote to Hon Mark Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, and Clare O'Neil MP, Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, following news of their appointments. And to request a meeting to discuss the role dietitians play in the health and wellbeing of older adults.

Sent May 2021 - With the planned reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) causing widespread concern, Dietitians Australia wrote to the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Shadow Minister for the NDIS, requesting a meeting to discuss how the reforms would affect nutritionally vulnerable individuals.

Sent June 2021 - Dietitians Australia wrote to the Hon Mark Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, and Ged Kearney MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, to request a meeting to discuss the role dietitians play in health and wellbeing. Also the recommendations around food and nutrition from the Aged Care Royal Commission.

Flexibility in how Australians see their dietitian is here to stay. Coming into effect next year, accessing an Accredited Practising Dietitian via telehealth will be a permanent feature through Medicare.

Released February 2021 - Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) play an important role in improving health outcomes of Tasmanian residents and Australians, with investment in dietetic clinical governance and leadership critical to address the existing deficiencies in this area, as well as the poor access to dietetics services.

Released April 2021 - We support the development of comprehensive clinical care standards which aim to improve the quality and safety of healthcare standards for all Australians. APDs play a key role in pain management. They help in the treatment of mental and physical conditions, including low back pain.

Our position on establishing a national policy to improve the dining experience in residential aged care facilities.

We call on aged care providers to engage Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) to review the quality of food, nutrition and the dining experience annually.