The Maggie Beer Foundation is seeking an additional $15.3 million over three years to expand its aged care food training – on top of $7.5 million already received.
According to The Age (via information obtained through a Freedom of Information request), the plan would scale the Trainer-Mentor Program, pairing aged care kitchen teams with qualified chefs. Since 2022, Maggie Beer Foundation says its training has reached around 600 homes – fewer than one-quarter of Australia’s 2,588 residential aged care facilities.
Tasmanian provider OneCare CEO Pete Williams told The Mercury he will write to Aged Care Minister Sam Rae urging a pause on some food programs, arguing smaller providers struggle to access them: if facilities cannot utilise the initiatives, “taxpayer money is not being put to the best use.”
CEO OneCare
TLC Healthcare chief executive Lou Pascuzzi told The Age the existing funding is “an irresponsible waste of money,” saying TLC, which operates 12 homes in Victoria, has not participated in the training.
Chief Executive TLC Healthcare
Food quality was a major theme of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards introduce a dedicated Food Standard from 1 November 2025.
The Government is evaluating the MBF program, with a report due November 2026.
