Meals on Wheels NSW Steps In as Community Meal Providers Left to Carry New Meal Compliance Burden

New initiative responds to growing pressure on community-based meal services excluded from funded dietetic support under aged care reforms

Meals on Wheels NSW has announced a major new initiative to support its members, 130 local Meals on Wheels services across the state, with the launch of a dedicated in-house dietitian program. The program is designed to help services meet new meal compliance requirements under the Aged Care Act, without adding further financial pressure.

The initiative comes at a time when Meals on Wheels services are navigating increasing operational and regulatory complexity, including new meal-related obligations requiring detailed dietetic menu and recipe reviews.

It also responds to a growing concern about an uneven playing field across the aged care sector.

While dietetic support programs have been funded for residential aged care providers over a two-year period via the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, community-based organisations such as Meals on Wheels have not had access to the same support. Requests from Meals on Wheels NSW to access this program were deemed ‘out of scope’, leaving local Meals on Wheels services to absorb the cost of new compliance requirements without additional government funding.

Developed in direct response to member feedback at the 2026 Futures Lab Roundtable, the program has moved from concept to implementation in just four weeks.

To reduce the burden on local providers, Meals on Wheels NSW is delivering:

One free dietitian-led menu review for every member service in NSW
A growing in-house dietitian team
Clinical oversight from Lead Dietitian and Board Director Sharon Lawrence (APD)
A prioritised rollout, focusing first on Meals on Wheels production kitchens and higher-risk services

“Our members told us clearly, they needed expert support to meet new requirements without diverting funds away from the people they serve. This investment is about protecting the sustainability of local services. Compliance should not come at the expense of care,” said Carolyn McColl, Chairperson, Meals on Wheels NSW.

“There is a clear imbalance in how these reforms are being experienced across the sector. Residential aged care providers were supported with funded dietetic programs, while community-based services were left out of scope, yet are still expected to meet the same requirements. As the peak body, we could not stand by and watch our members carry that burden alone. Our newly launched Dietitian program is about stepping in where support is missing and ensuring that local Meals on Wheels services are not disadvantaged by the system they operate within,” said Claudia Odello, CEO, Meals on Wheels NSW.

Lead Dietitian Sharon Lawrence said the program is about strengthening both compliance and quality outcomes across the Meals on Wheels network.

“These reviews are not just about meeting requirements, they are about ensuring meals are safe, nutritionally appropriate, and consistent across Meals on Wheels services. Our role is to make this process practical and achievable, translating complex guidelines into clear, usable advice that supports services on the ground,” said Sharon Lawrence, Lead Dietitian and Board Member, Meals on Wheels NSW.

Following the initial free review, Meals on Wheels NSW will continue to support members through a cost-effective fee-for-service model, ensuring ongoing compliance as menus and requirements evolve.

This initiative reflects the organisation’s broader commitment to supporting members through reform, combining advocacy, resources, tools, and direct service delivery support.