Skip to main content
Donate
Login

Upskilling Aged Care Kitchens

Funded by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Good food is about more than nutrition. It supports dignity, enjoyment and quality of life for older Australians.

The Maggie Beer Foundation works with cooks, chefs and aged care providers across Australia to improve the food experience in aged care.

Our education and training programs bring together practical cooking skills, nutrition knowledge and real-world experience from aged care kitchens. We support kitchen teams to create meals that residents enjoy and look forward to every day.

Whether you are just starting to explore improvements or ready to transform your kitchen practices, there is a program to support your team. 

Explore our free training programs

Improving food in aged care takes knowledge, confidence and support.  

Our programs work together to provide learning opportunities for cooks, chefs and providers at every stage. 

Related pages

  • OLM
    Page

    Online Learning Modules

    Bite-sized training designed for busy kitchen teams. Build practical skills in flavour, nutrition, texture modified meals and the dining experience.

    Read more
  • Page

    State & Territory Hubs

    Small groups of cooks and chefs learning together. Share ideas, tackle common challenges and build connections across kitchens.

    Read more
  • Page

    Trainer Mentor Program

    A 12-month mentoring program where experienced chef trainers work alongside kitchen teams to improve menus, skills, systems and dining experiences.

    Read more
  • Page

    Professional Community

    Your one-stop shop for aged care dining success. Access recipes, tools, resources and peer support in one easy-to-use platform.

    Read more

The impact of our work

Across Australia, aged care providers are working with the Maggie Beer Foundation to improve food quality and dining experiences.

Independent evaluation shows our programs are helping kitchens make meaningful changes.

Participants report:

  • Improved food quality and flavour
  • Increased confidence among cooks and chefs
  • Greater focus on nutrition and resident choice
  • Stronger pride in kitchen teams and their work.

The result is simple but powerful: residents enjoying their meals. 

Ready to improve food in your home?

Improving food in aged care starts with small, practical changes.

Our programs provide the knowledge, tools and support to help kitchen teams make those changes with confidence.

Action Providers Homes Cooks & Chefs
Prioritise food quality and dining experience for residents Yes Yes
Include Maggie Beer Foundation training in staff development and onboarding Yes Yes
Provide time for kitchen staff to complete training Yes Yes
Encourage cooks and chefs to attend training programs Yes Yes Yes
Host or join Hubs for cooks and chefs to learn and connect Yes Yes Yes
Enrol homes in the Trainer Mentor Program Yes Yes
Foster a culture of learning and improvement in the kitchen Yes Yes Yes
Cook from scratch and prioritise flavour and nutrition Yes Yes Yes
Trial new recipes from the Professional Community Yes Yes
Use Professional Community tools and resources Yes Yes
Apply learning from training to improve meals and menus Yes Yes
Seek resident feedback to guide improvements Yes Yes
Engage fully in training and try new approaches Yes
Share ideas with peers in the Professional Community forum Yes
Take pride in cooking delicious, nutritious meals Yes

Table

Action
Prioritise food quality and dining experience for residents
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Action
Include Maggie Beer Foundation training in staff development and onboarding
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Action
Provide time for kitchen staff to complete training
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Action
Encourage cooks and chefs to attend training programs
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Host or join Hubs for cooks and chefs to learn and connect
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Enrol homes in the Trainer Mentor Program
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Action
Foster a culture of learning and improvement in the kitchen
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Cook from scratch and prioritise flavour and nutrition
Providers
Yes
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Trial new recipes from the Professional Community
Providers
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Use Professional Community tools and resources
Providers
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Apply learning from training to improve meals and menus
Providers
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Seek resident feedback to guide improvements
Providers
Homes
Yes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Engage fully in training and try new approaches
Providers
Homes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Share ideas with peers in the Professional Community forum
Providers
Homes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes
Action
Take pride in cooking delicious, nutritious meals
Providers
Homes
Cooks & Chefs
Yes

Learn more about our work

  • An independent Year Two evaluation by HealthConsult confirmed the program is driving measurable improvements in food quality, nutrition, staff capability and resident wellbeing.

  • A practical 3-week menu designed specifically for aged care kitchens.

    • nutritionally assessed by dietitians 
    • scaled for 10, 60 or 120 serves 
    • includes IDDSI guidance 
    • recipes tested in aged care homes. 

  • The Maggie Beer Foundation commissioned Flinders University to conduct a nationwide survey measuring food satisfaction among residents, families and staff.

  • A new training program supporting teams who plan, cook and deliver meals under Support at Home and the Commonwealth Home Support Program