Dietitians Australia welcomes the opportunity to comment on Food Standards Australia and New Zealand’s (FSANZ) Proposal P1066 - Review of young child formula. Young child formula is currently regulated under Standard 2.9.3 Formulated meal replacements and formulated supplementary foods as formulated supplementary foods for young children in the Australia New Zealand Food Standard Code.

This proposal considers adopting a clearer and more targeted regulatory framework for young child formula that reflects its classification as a special purpose food.

Dietitians (APDs) play a pivotal role in supporting Autistic children and adults to eat in a way that supports their health and wellbeing. By offering nutrition therapy throughout the continuum of care, APDs address challenges such as restrictive diets and gastrointestinal concerns, ultimately enhancing the person's capacity to learn, engage, and fully participate in life.

Dietitians Australia has provided a supplementary response to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee following the extension of consultation on the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. Dietitians Australia requested the opportunity to present at the upcoming new Public Hearings. Dietitians Australia remains concerned that the NDIS Amendment Bill may reduce access to safe, effective and disability-specific nutrition and dietetic supports. Our supplementary submission responds to the consultation extension and continues to call for stronger safeguards to protect participants, recognise the clinical expertise of Accredited Practising Dietitians, and ensure nutrition and hydration supports are not displaced by generic tools, automated decision-making or inappropriate referral to other systems.

Dietitians Australia welcomed the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the Health Star Rating (HSR) system as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) opened its first formal call for submissions. Mandating the HSR system is a necessary step to improve population diets and the food environment to maximise public health impact.

Dietitians Australia has provided a submission to Monash University for the Public consultation for the Review and Update the Australian Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care. We thank our members and expert reviewers for their support to highlight the essential role of nutrition and Accredited Practising Dietitians in supporting people with dementia across the continuum of care.