Our Team

Registered Nurse, Change Consultant

Julie Smith is a highly perceptive and proactive registered nurse. Her ability to observe and identify issues, combined with her practical approach to problem-solving, enables her to effectively initiate and drive meaningful change. She engages collaboratively with staff at all levels, fostering a culture of trust and teamwork. Julie's approach is not only insightful but also action-oriented, ensuring efforts result in tangible improvements and positive outcomes. In 2011, Julie won the HESTA Nurse of the Year Award, recognizing her outstanding contribution and achievement in the nursing profession in Australia.

Over the past 20 years, Elizabeth and Julie have worked closely together in their quest to improve the quality of care for older adults. Prior to becoming aged care consultants, Julie was the Executive Manager of Residential Care for a not-for-profit aged care provider, with Elizabeth as Leader of Care Innovation. Julie and Elizabeth implemented the ‘Care with Purpose’ model, based on Montessori principles, across seven residences, which incorporated enriching environments, buffet-style meals, and opportunities for meaningful engagement for residents.

Researcher, Speech Pathologist

Associate Professor Jade Cartwright is a Speech Pathologist and researcher in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Tasmania with more than 20 years of experience working in the dementia and aged care field.

Over the past 15 years, Elizabeth and Jade have explored how transformation in mealtime care can provide a pathway towards more humanistic and person-centred ways of caring – promoting choice, independence, social connection and respect.

Both Elizabeth and Jade are strong advocates for the role of allied health services in residential aged care and the importance of cultivating cultures of teamwork, learning and innovation. Together, they hope to change attitudes and reduce stigma towards aged care and dementia, and demonstrate that systemic change is possible, and that more inclusive, enabling and enriching models of care can be imagined, implemented and sustained.

Speech Pathologist

Natalie O’Brien is an experienced and passionate speech pathologist from Speech Plus Therapy Solutions and advocate for older people with swallowing and communication difficulties. Natalie is dedicated to ensuring all people have safe, enjoyable, fulfilling mealtime experiences and has over 20 years’ experience working across different settings, including aged care, rehabilitation, early childhood, schools and clinical education.

Over the past 15 years, Natalie and Elizabeth advocate for the balance between clinical safety and quality of life in aged care, integrating person centred principles and regulatory frameworks to guide clinical care. They have co-supervised speech pathology students, inspiring the next generation of allied health professionals.

Using training, upskilling, and mentoring, Elizabeth and Natalie support individuals, families, facilities, and communities to ensure older people, regardless of their diagnoses or level of ability, can enjoy mealtimes and find meaning and enjoyment in their lives.

Dietitian

A skilled dietitian with 10 years of experience in the field of aged care, Emma has developed an understanding of the unique nutritional needs and challenges faced by many older adults.

As experts in Maggie Beer’s Big Mission, Emma and Elizabeth worked together to conduct comprehensive baseline assessments with residents, consider new ways to enhance residents’ mealtime choices, and provide training and mentoring for the care staff.

With a food first philosophy and vision to make every mouthful count, Emma played a central role in devising innovative ways to meet the specific dietary requirements of the residents whilst not sacrificing on flavour.