Julie has extensive experience in the aged care industry. She has partnered with many organisations across Australia to develop effective nutrition solutions in a range of settings. Her roles as a food services manager, residential site manager and consultant dietitian have provided Julie with a deep understanding of the daily challenges faced by the aged care industry.
A respected leader in the dietetics profession, Julie has served on the Board of Dietitians Australia for 10 years, including four years as Vice-President and another four as President. More recently, she has played a leading role in advocating for aged care nutrition, contributing to the Dietitians Australia submission to the Royal Commission and serving as the Subject Matter Lead – Aged Care for Dietitians Australia.
The M-Check – the benchmark in menu and mealtime assessments
Precis
From 1 November 2025, the Strengthened Aged Care Quality and Safety Standards will require all residential aged care providers to commission an annual menu and mealtime assessment by an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Existing assessment instruments—most notably the Dietitians Australia Menu Assessment tool—vary in scope and rigour. Providers seek a comprehensive, efficient platform that aligns menu quality, nutrition care, and dining environment with the full suite of Standards 1–6.
Objective
To present the M-Check IT platform as a benchmark solution for menu and mealtime assessments in aged care, and to identify the most frequent menu faults and successes observed through its application in over 20 aged care home assessments.
Methods
A retrospective review was conducted on more than 20 annual assessments performed via the M-Check platform. Each assessment was mapped to Standards 1–6, enabling holistic evaluation of menu design, nutrient adequacy, mealtime environment, documentation, resident engagement, and staff training. Key fault and success themes were extracted and summarised to guide quality-improvement initiatives.
Results
Analysis revealed recurrent menu faults and success patterns. Accredited Practising Dietitians and management reported that the M-Check’s alignment with all six Standards streamlined reporting workflows and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration between dietitians, culinary teams, and care staff.
Conclusion
The M-Check platform offers a validated, user-friendly benchmark for comprehensive menu and mealtime assessments. By addressing menu design, nutritional adequacy, and the dining environment within a unified framework, it empowers aged care providers to meet regulatory requirements, optimise resident nutrition, and foster a warm, engaging dining experience.