Technology in the modern aged care kitchen

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Chef Jeffrey Richard Gear Senior Vice President, Australian Institute of Technical Chefs (AITC) Former Royal Household Chef, Culinary Consultant, Aged Care Advocate

by Chef Jeffrey Richard Gear
Senior Vice President, Australian Institute of Technical Chefs (AITC)
Former Royal Household Chef, Culinary Consultant, Aged Care Advocate

Part 1 of this article, dealing with the Evolving Role of Chefs in Aged Care, appeared in our last issue.

Smart kitchens are no longer a futuristic concept – they are here. From Bluetooth temperature probes to centralised ordering portals and visual compliance dashboards, aged care kitchens are being re-engineered for precision and transparency.

Future training modules must include:

  • Digital HACCP and cold chain management

  • Kitchen automation and workflow apps

  • Resident-driven digital meal orders and feedback tools

Career progression in aged care: beyond the stove

Aged care no longer offers “dead end” jobs for chefs. In fact, it offers one of the clearest and most structured pathways for those looking to make a longterm impact.

Emerging roles:

  • Executive Chef – Residential Aged Care

  • Regional Hospitality Manager

  • Menu Development Specialist

  • Compliance Auditor – Food Services

  • Culinary Educator – Aged Care Nutrition

Progression should be underpinned by professional registration.

The human side of aged care chefing

Aged care foodservice

Working in aged care also means building longterm connections. Unlike a hotel, restaurant or catering gig, the residents you cook for become your family. You know their birthdays. You see the joy when you serve a favourite dessert. You watch memories resurface with the smell of roast lamb or Anzac biscuits.

And when you lose a resident, you grieve with the team.

This emotional labour must be recognised and supported through:

  • Mental health and wellness programs

  • Peer debriefing and supportive leadership

  • A culture of respect and professional pride

Recommendations for the sector

For aged care providers:

  • Fund formal training and certification pathways for chefs

  • Appoint executive chefs at a regional level to mentor and innovate

  • Incorporate chefs into clinical care meetings and assessments

For government and regulators:

  • Mandate nutritional training as part of commercial cookery qualifications

  • Include chefs in clinical governance frameworks

  • Fund pilot programs for inhouse training on Standard 6

For chefs themselves:

  • Register with AITC or a recognised culinary institute

  • Pursue short courses in IDDSI, HACCP and nutrition for the elderly

  • Embrace aged care not as a fallback but as a frontier for leadership

Aged care is the future for purpose-driven chefs

In a world that is increasingly disconnected, aged care offers chefs the chance to reconnect – to people, to purpose, to legacy.

It demands excellence, compassion, compliance, and creativity. It will test your culinary skill and grow your emotional depth.

The best chefs in aged care don’t just serve food. They serve memories, dignity, health and joy. It’s time we train, recognise and elevate them as the culinary clinicians they are.

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