Maggie Beer has a financial deadline for her culinary mission to transform food at thousands of aged care homes.
The effusive celebrity chef, 80, is using her reputation and influence to head up the Maggie Beer Foundation and has been working to put delicious food onto the plates of vulnerable elderly Australians.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra today, Beer said the government cash injection to her foundation for first-of-its-kind specialised chef training in aged care homes will run out in 2026.
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"We simply have not got the capacity to meet demand and our current funding ends in September next year," Beer said.
"[We've had] 135 homes will be through this program. Every day, we get a new inquiry. 135 homes doesn't sound much, but believe you me, the filtering down effect is there.
"We, the foundation, myself, personally, are advocating fiercely for it to continue."
Beer is building a roadmap for a future model of aged care and food is at the heart of it.
Part of the mission is to bridge the training gap in cook and chef roles across the nearly 2700 Commonwealth-subsidised homes in Australia.
Her message has been simple: lovingly-prepared, nutritious food equals better wellbeing.
She told the press club that an ageing population urgently demands more skilled chefs, kitchen hands and staff with a passion for food.
"Beautiful food will make such a difference to the wellbeing of residents and pride of the teams," she said.
"Without those equal amounts of flavour, goodness and pleasure, food becomes a commodity.
"Food becomes institutionalised, and leads to residents not eating well, or not eating enough. And that leads to malnutrition."
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Beer said meals shouldn't be an "afterthought" in aged care homes.
But she acknowledged that underfunding is rampant. In 2021/22, an average of just $14.46 was spent on food per resident per day at aged care providers.
"Fresh real ingredients provide flavour that frozen never can, and we can show aged care homes that cooking fresh actually does not cost more," she added.
"However, only if supported by the skill set, passion and knowledge and support of management, it is all possible and because I know there's so little money to spare within aged care homes."
Aged care facilities are home to some of the most vulnerable members of Australia's elderly population.
According to Dementia Australia, there are an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia in 2025.
And over half of the 245,000 people in aged care were living with dementia as of 2022.
Beer said good food can be a familiar, safe space for those enduring the sometimes traumatic transition of moving into care.
"One of the most evocative things is a sense of smell that stays with us and smell that links to good memories," Beer explained.
"Living with dementia is so hard but I can tell you those instincts are still there.
"It's never going to be easy, but all those things can make such a difference."
In a submission on the Aged Care Bill 2024, The Maggie Beer Foundation Trainer Mentor Program asked for an extension to its funding beyond September 2026.
The Maggie Beer Foundation has petitioned for $15.3 million across three years to fund its program to improve food in aged care and solutions for older people recieving care at home.
Beer also issued a plea to the Federal Minister for Ageing and Seniors Sam Rae, who was sitting in the room in Canberra today, for more funding.
"We run a very lean show. And there's no money for us to be funded," she said.
"I can't bear to think of it as being lost. It's so very valuable.
"So you can be sure I will be advocating fiercely again to the government to support the program."
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