03 August 2011

'Bridging the Gap’ savours the community chef cuisine

Article written by: Geoff Hicks (CPP Worker, Diversitat, Geelong)

For some time now Councils have been concerned about the quality, cost, variety and nutritional value of their delivered meals. The existing model of the “Meals On Wheels” program has been replaced by the new, state of the art, “Community Chef” project which was introduced in December 2010 and will produce over 1.2 million meals per year.

The “Community Chef” facility located in Altona is modeled on international design, visions and standards and now offers a 6 menu choice range including Anglo-Australian, Mediterranean, Asian, Vegetarian, Roast or Salad plus Kosher and Halal options.
On the 27th April at Diversitat’s Wholefoods Café, representatives from our ageing cultural communities and Geelong’s aged care service providers were treated to a firsthand taste testing of the cuisine the “Community Chef” has to offer.

Hinga Fletcher (Aged & Disability Services, COGG) and two volunteers from the Geelong council meals program attended the “Bridging The Gap” meeting and provided a wonderful presentation for the group which included sampling of the culinary offerings (most received the thumbs up) of the improved delivered meals program. Many thanks must go to Hinga and her assistants who have also offered to provide the group with a tour of the “Community Chef” facility later in 2011.

The Bridging The Gap project received funding assistance from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Community Partners Program (CPP).