MEDIA RELEASE: Meals on Wheels Australia calls for government support ahead of the 2025 Federal Election, addressing funding, volunteer shortages, and aged care policy to sustain vital meal services for older Australians.

Statement on Behalf of Meals on Wheels^TM Australia
Paul Sadler, Chair, Meals on Wheels Australia Ltd

As the Federal Election approaches, Meals on Wheels Australia (MoWA) is asking all sides of politics to support this iconic service and its critical role in supporting an ageing population.

Rising prices, difficulties recruiting and retaining volunteers and an increasing compliance burden are combining to place pressure on Meals on Wheels services.

MoWA is seeking the following commitments:

• Fully funding our services through grants and/or activity-based funding mechanisms rather than individual budgets,
• Adequate indexation based on the advice of Independent Health & Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA), and
• Allocation of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) growth funding targeted to areas where there are service waiting lists.

Meals on Wheels services make a substantial contribution to social capital via our 35,000 volunteers, delivering not only a meal but social connection and a well-being check. Based on Australian and international research, we know that MoW reduces costs to the health system.[1]

We are concerned that an increasing number of meals services have their books closed to new clients.  We know that the Home Care Package waiting list has increased to more than 80,000 nationally with a waiting time of up to 15 months and that many CHSP services have closed their books to new clients via My Aged Care.

We welcome the decision by the Albanese Government to grant a 10% increase to the price paid for meals under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) late last year.  This has alleviated some of the financial pressure our members are experiencing.

MoWA is also seeking support to employ a paid executive officer.  We believe a modest level of funding would be money well spent as we provide critical support to our members through introduction of the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home Program.

We look forward to the new Parliament engaging positively with MoW at national, state and local levels.

[1] See for example https://mealsonwheels.org.au/learn-more/research/

Media contact: 
Paul Sadler – 0418 208 232                      [email protected]