Safe and Enjoyable Mealtime Support

Course Overview

Learn how to provide safe, respectful and enjoyable mealtime support, including practical strategies for people who experience swallowing difficulties or dysphagia.

This course explores the support worker’s role in creating mealtimes that are safe and hygienic while still being enjoyable, social and centred around the individual.

Why take this course?

Mealtimes are about much more than simply eating and drinking. They can be an important part of someone’s routine, a chance to connect with others and something they genuinely look forward to.

For people who experience swallowing difficulties, however, eating and drinking can involve additional risks and require specific support.

Support workers need to understand how to recognise possible signs of swallowing difficulties and know how to respond appropriately while maintaining the person’s comfort, dignity and enjoyment of their meal.

During this 45-minute course, you’ll explore how factors such as the environment, equipment, positioning and communication can influence a person’s safety and experience at mealtimes.

You’ll also learn about texture-modified foods and fluids, including practical ways to make modified meals more appealing rather than treating them as simply another clinical requirement.

The focus throughout is on achieving the right balance — supporting safer eating and drinking without losing the social and enjoyable parts of mealtimes.

Important Disclaimer

This course is provided for information and educational purposes only. It is designed to increase your understanding of the topic and provide theoretical knowledge to support your professional development.

Upon successful completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. This certificate confirms that you have completed the learning content and any associated assessments within this course. It is not a formal qualification, nationally recognised certification, licence, or accreditation, and it does not, on its own, demonstrate practical competency or authorise you to perform workplace tasks.

This course provides the theoretical knowledge required to support safe manual handling practices. It is not a substitute for practical workplace training, supervised competency assessments, organisation-specific policies and procedures, or workplace-specific manual handling instruction.

Where practical skills are required, learners must complete any additional hands-on training, workplace induction, competency assessments, and ongoing supervision required by their employer or applicable legislation.

It is the responsibility of each learner and their employer to ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with current workplace policies, relevant legislation, applicable Australian Standards, and industry best practice.

By undertaking this course, you acknowledge and agree that the Certificate of Completion is evidence of participation only and should not be relied upon as proof of professional competence or eligibility to perform manual handling tasks without appropriate workplace training and assessment.