All language subtitles for Standard 6 - Food and Nutrition

We are publishing this resource in draft
form to assist providers, workers and

older people to prepare for the Aged
Care Act 2024.

This content remains draft and will be
updated after the new Act and Aged Care

Rules 2025 come into force.

Strengthen Aged Care Quality Standard 6,
Food and Nutrition, requires registered

providers to work with older people to
find out what they like to eat and

This recognises that having access to
nutritionally adequate food is a

fundamental human right.

As a provider, this means asking older
people in your care about what and how

they like to eat and drink and
supporting them in their choices, even

may come with some risks.

Strength and Quality Standard 6 is
intended to apply only to residential

homes.

focuses on ensuring your service
provides older people with food and

are full of flavour, appetising and
nutritious.

This also applies to texture -modified
diet.

The expected outcomes of Strength and
Quality Standard 6 are Outcome 6 .1,

partnering with individuals on food and
drinks.

This outcome explains how to partner
with older people to make sure food and

drink are appealing and meet older
people's needs and preferences.

It also explains how food and drink
contribute to a dining experience that

promotes quality of life.

Outcome 6 .2, Assessment of Nutritional
Needs and Preferences.

This outcome reinforces a need to assess
nutritional needs and preferences in

residential care homes.

It aims to improve the older person's
health and wellbeing by identifying and

addressing specific dietary requirements
and preferences, preventing

malnutrition and dehydration, respecting
individual choices and cultural

backgrounds, improving meal
satisfaction, supporting specialised

promoting independence.

Outcome 6 .3, provision of food and
drink, explains that providers need to

develop menus that are appetising,
nutritious, flavoursome and contain meal

variety and choice.

Outcome 6 .4, dining experience,
explains the need to make sure that

enough workers available to help older
people with eating and drinking as

needed. This outcome aims to support
providers with fostering a dining

environment that promotes a sense of
belonging, social engagement, reablement

and enjoyment.

In this strength and quality standard,
some of the actions relate to new topics

or expectations.

The remaining actions are either in line
with or clarify the current quality

standards or other existing provider
responsibilities.

Strength and Quality Standard 6 has key
topics that connect with Strength and

Quality Standard 5.

To apply Strength and Quality Standard 6
in practice, you should make sure you

have clearly documented systems and
processes.

Use monitoring tools to show how staff
are following these processes and find

opportunities for improvement.

Work with people receiving care to
understand their experiences and care

outcomes. Observe how your service
provides care.

Ask for feedback from your governing
body, managers, workers, people you care

for and others involved in the delivery
of care and services.

Use feedback to improve your care and
services.

As a provider, you must understand your
responsibilities to plan and monitor the

food preferences of older people so you
can achieve positive health outcomes.

The Commission has a range of resources
available to support you to take action

and achieve the outcome of Strength and
Quality Standard 6 Food and Nutrition.

You can access these resources from the
Commission's website.