Has it been another year already? Once again, the ACCPA National Conference 2024 in Adelaide brought together Australia’s aged care providers, policymakers, and industry innovators to share insights and shape the future of aged care, this year following the theme ‘Age of Excellence: Inspire, Innovate, Impact.’
As the national industry association for aged care, ACCPA fosters a unified vision to enhance the wellbeing of older Australians through a trusted, high-performing aged care sector. This year’s conference, the largest aged care industry association event in Australia, emphasised the industry’s commitment to redefining aged care and driving excellence, not only by embracing regulatory reform but by genuinely enhancing the lives of older adults.
Jonathan Storer, our National Business Development Manager for Aged Care, was honoured to represent Cater Care at this event, showcasing our commitment to making meaningful mealtimes in aged care food services alongside a vibrant community of leaders, thinkers, and providers. Additionally, this year we were joined at our booth by Buylink, the leading specialist in third party procurement solutions, and Care Food Co., an innovative changemaker in the world of texture-modified food, all promoting our shared vision of great food, provided well, for all needs.
L to R: Damian Jardine (BuyLink), Jonathan Storer (Cater Care), and David McAuley (Care Food Co.)
At the ACCPA National Conference 2024, the trio were kept busy, engaging in constant conversations, reinforcing relationships, and exploring potential collaborations in aged care food services and quality texture-modified diet solutions, all aligned with our mission of delivering excellence in aged care catering.
As Jonathan Storer told us after the event, “This was the first time that we had brought together three key catering solutions at an aged care conference, and we were overwhelmed with the interest and enquiries from those delegates attending … a fantastic event!”
One facility expressed a keen interest in enhancing their dining services for nearly 200 beds, a promising opportunity as we expand our services interstate. Another long-standing outreach led to renewed interest from a major care group executive, who emphasised the importance of staying connected for future opportunities. Additionally, a national association undergoing a rebranding and consolidation journey is exploring new catering partnerships to support its future growth. As they navigate this transformation, we remain committed to providing updates on our comprehensive catering services.
This is why we attend conferences like ACCPA—to build strong connections with those who, like us, are committed to bringing the best to aged care. We’re eager to support these communities and stand with them in their dedication to quality care.
The conference allowed us to demonstrate the cohesive power of businesses teaming up —Cater Care, Buylink, and Care Food Co.—to model a comprehensive service ecosystem for aged care providers. David McAuley of Care Food Co. shared after the event, “The working synergy between Cater Care, Buylink, and Care Food Co. was a powerful one,” underscoring our commitment to delivering exceptional value and a unified solution for our clients.
“Being able to present the total aged care food solution at ACCPA was a fantastic opportunity. The delegates we spoke with were highly enthusiastic about our ability to meet their specific needs be it outsourcing, texture modified foods, or the possibility of tapping into our procurement services expertise whilst still maintaining their preferred in house catering model.”—Damian Jardine, Buylink
Notably, Care Food Co. products were a standout, with attendees impressed by the quality and taste of their offerings. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many providers eager to incorporate Care Food Co. into their aged care food services and asking for more opportunities to sample in their own time through an application.
This feedback provided us with unique insights into the needs of those we work with, helping us grow and deliver our best.
Reflecting on the ‘Age of Excellence’ theme, Cater Care is more committed than ever to inspiring innovation and delivering impact across our aged care food services. Our engagements at ACCPA National Conference 2024 reinforced our role in the sector’s transformation, supporting providers as they navigate reforms and meet evolving consumer expectations. We’re excited to strengthen partnerships, introduce innovative services, and uphold high standards of care—empowered by the connections made and insights gained from this invaluable event.
We look forward to seeing everyone at ACCPA 2025 on the Gold Coast as we continue to work with you all, making meaningful mealtimes in aged care across Australia.
