Meal Preparation

Meal Preparation covers the everyday support that helps you eat well, safely, and with less effort. Under the Support at Home program, Meal Preparation sits within the Everyday Living category, alongside services like Domestic Assistance and Home Maintenance. 

With Chris Barnard Health, Meal Preparation can include: 

• Meal preparation, a Support Worker helps you cook meals in your own kitchen, made the way you like them 

• Meal delivery services, ready-made meals brought to your door when cooking isn’t practical – we have relationships with a number of ready-made meal providers 

Whether it’s a helping hand in the kitchen or meals delivered ready to eat, the goal is the same: making sure good food stays part of your everyday life, without it becoming a burden. 

Meal Preparation sits within the Everyday Living  category of Support at Home. This means, unlike clinical services such as Nursing or Physiotherapy, a contribution generally applies, usually somewhere between 17.5% and 80%, based on your income and assets. Your Care Partner will walk you through exactly what applies to your situation, and help you plan Meal Preparation into your quarterly budget in a way that suits your priorities. 

Not yet receiving government funding, or want a little more help with meals than your care plan currently covers? We also offer privately funded Meal Preparation, so good food is never out of reach. 

Good nutrition plays a bigger role in health, energy, and independence than many people realise, especially as we age. Skipped meals, smaller portions, or relying on the same easy option again and again can quietly affect strength, mood, and overall wellbeing over time. 

Beyond nutrition, there’s real comfort in a proper meal. Many of our clients tell us the same thing: it’s not just about being fed, it’s about still enjoying food the way they always have, made the way they like it, without the effort feeling like too much some days. 

Made Your Way, Not Just Made 
We know food is personal. Your preferences, dietary needs, favourite dishes, and the little things that make a meal feel right, all of it matters. Your Care Partner takes the time to understand what good food looks like for you, so Meal Preparation is shaped around your tastes, not a generic menu. 

Your Rights, Our Commitment 

Every service we provide, including Meal Preparation, is guided by your rights under the Aged Care Act 2024. That means you always have the right to: 

• Make decisions about your care and what you eat 

• Be treated with dignity and respect, always 

• Be involved in planning your services, including who delivers them 

• Speak up if something isn’t working, and know you’ll genuinely be heard 

Meal Preparation is available if you’re an eligible Support at Home participant, generally aged 65 or over (50 or over for First Nations people) and needing coordinated support to stay safely and independently at home. It’s also available to younger people living with disability, dementia, or other care needs not met through other specialist services. 

Meals that actually suit you. We take the time to understand your dietary needs, preferences, and favourite meals, so what ends up on your plate feels like your own cooking, not a one-size-fits-all menu. 

Give us a call on 1300 602 469 to chat about Meal Preparation and how it fits into your Support at Home plan, or fill out our contact form on the website  and we’ll be in touch.