The NDIS regulator is stepping up efforts to ensure local service providers have the proper mealtime supports in place for people with dysphagia.
The condition, which involves difficulty swallowing, can put vulnerable people at significantly higher risk of death from aspiration pneumonia and choking.
The new compliance crackdown builds on the Commission’s recent mealtime management campaign, during which NDIS Commission officers visited 98 registered and unregistered providers across the country between May and August 2025.
Over 16 weeks, staff conducted 184 site visits to check whether providers were meeting their obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and relevant Practice Standards for mealtime and dysphagia management.
Associate Commissioner for NDIS Quality and Safeguards, Natalie Wade, says it’s critically important local providers are following the correct mealtime practices.
“Every person deserves to feel safe and supported at mealtimes.”
Image: Wheelchair Disability Paraplegic – Free photo on Pixabay
