ProfBronwyn Hemsley

This initiative addresses the critical need for safe and enjoyable mealtime experiences for people with swallowing disabilities. Led by Professor Bronwyn Hemsley and an interdisciplinary team at UTS, the project co-created practical training resources for support workers who assist individuals during meals. Funded by the NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission and the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing, the research involved collaboration with clinicians, families, and disability advocates to ensure solutions were user-centred and evidence-based. The impact includes improved safety and quality of life by reducing choking risks and enhancing mealtime enjoyment for people with swallowing difficulties, capacity building by equipping support workers with tailored training to deliver safer assistance, sector-wide adoption with resources and guidelines now available through platforms like Enjoy Safe Meals influencing disability care standards nationally, and policy and practice change as findings inform regulatory frameworks and best-practice guidelines for disability services. This case exemplifies how co-design and interdisciplinary research can drive meaningful change in health and social care, improving wellbeing and safeguarding vulnerable communities.