Panel 43rd National Hospitality in Healthcare Conference

One year into Standard 6 implementation, aged care providers across Australia are redefining what smart hospitality means in practice — balancing compliance, resident choice, workforce pressures, operational realities and rising expectations around dining and service experience.

While Standard 6 has accelerated important conversations around nutrition, dignity, hospitality and quality of life, the first year of implementation has also highlighted the complexity of delivering meaningful change across aged care environments. Many providers continue to navigate workforce shortages, operational silos, budget pressures and increasing expectations from residents, families and regulators, all while striving to improve consistency and quality of experience.

Presented by Choice Collective — a collaborative initiative bringing together leaders across aged care hospitality, nutrition, operations and service innovation — this curated multidisciplinary keynote-style panel explores the realities of Standard 6 implementation and the future of hospitality in healthcare and aged care settings.

Moderated by John Jordan, Marketing Manager / Creative Director, Meyer Food Co, the session will feature perspectives from:

• Presenter / Facilitator – John Jordan, General Manager, Marketing, Meyer Food Co
• Panellist: John Casey, Director, The Culinary Studio
• Panellist: Sally Moloney, Dietitian, Nutrition Professionals Australia
• Panellist: Lindsey O’Grady, Australian Institute of Technical Chefs
• Panellist: Bryan Seeborun, National Food Safety Manager / Products & Innovation - Hotel Services, Regis Aged Care

Through practical discussion and real-world experience, the panel will examine:

• lessons learned during the first year of Standard 6,
• common implementation challenges across aged care environments,
• workforce capability and hospitality culture,
• resident choice and dining experience expectations,
• nutrition and clinical priorities,
• operational integration and service redesign,
• and the evolving role of innovation in supporting hospitality outcomes.

Central to the discussion is the idea that smart hospitality is not created through isolated initiatives, but through connected systems, collaboration and practical integration across hospitality, nutrition, operations and care teams. The panel will explore how organisations are moving toward more connected models of service delivery — creating greater consistency, flexibility and ultimately a stronger system for resident choice.

Rather than focusing solely on compliance, the session will challenge delegates to consider how hospitality can become a defining part of quality of life, culture and resident experience in aged care.

Attendees will leave with practical insights, multidisciplinary perspectives and real-world ideas that can support more connected, responsive and future-focused hospitality models across healthcare and aged care environments.