Dysphagia training
People with dysphagia experience difficulty swallowing and require a mealtime management plan to maintain safety and enjoy their mealtimes.
Our dysphagia training programs are designed for allied health professionals, disability and aged care support workers, and family to develop their knowledge and confidence to assist clients with their specific eating and drinking needs including safe ingesting of food, drinks and medicines, and understanding the use of a texture-modified diet and fluids.
Face-to-face onsite or online learning
Speak and Swallow courses are delivered onsite or online. Simply choose the right option for you!
Face-to-face
Delivered in-house at your organisation or at Speak and Swallow’s Brisbane clinic.
Online (24/7, worldwide)
Access to our training modules 24/7 from wherever you are located.
Following the completion of our courses, participants are given the opportunity to join Speak and Swallow’s Closed Facebook Group and gain ongoing support and access to information, insights and resources.
Dysphagia training courses on offer
Introduction to Dysphagia and Mealtime Management Plans
Learn the foundations for maximising safety and mealtime enjoyment for people with dysphagia (swallowing difficulty).
Developed and facilitated by our friendly and experienced Speech Pathologists, this course combines evidence-based theory on dysphagia and highlights your responsibilities in supporting a client during mealtimes.
You will be provided with practical resources, tools and techniques to implement Mealtime Management Plans and optimise safety and mealtime enjoyment for those in your care.
Time Commitment |
90 minutes |
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Delivery Methods |
Onsite & Online |
Cost |
$89.00 |
Our Introduction to Dysphagia and Mealtime Management Plans course is for:
- Support workers and carers, including families and friends, responsible for the day-to-day care of individuals with swallowing difficulties looking to increase their understanding of dysphagia and grow their capability and confidence in managing mealtimes.
- Allied health professionals who form part of the wider support team for individuals with dysphagia looking to enhance their knowledge of best practice mealtime management.
- Speech Pathologists who want to build their knowledge in dysphagia and mealtime management.
In this course you will learn:
- About the swallow process and what is ‘Dysphagia’
- Signs and symptoms of Dysphagia
- Risks associated with Dysphagia
- What to do next?
- What is a Mealtime Management Plan?
- Why a Mealtime Management Plan is needed?
- How a Mealtime Management Plan is assessed and developed
- The components of a Mealtime Management Plan and your role in the implementation
- Your responsibilities under the:
- Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety – Aged Care Quality Standards
- NDIS Practice Standard for Mealtime Management – nine key Quality Indicators
- How to manage safety incidents that may occur during mealtimes
- Proactively reducing risk – what can you do?
Preparing Food and Drink - International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework is a system used to describe and classify food textures and fluid consistencies across Australia and around the world.
Learn how to prepare modified texture and consistency of food and fluids to ensure you are providing safe and enjoyable meals. This includes using the IDDSI testing methods.
Developed and facilitated by our friendly and experienced Speech Pathologists, this course combines the foundations plus practical strategies and tools to make texture modification for dysphagia diets easy to understand and apply to any ingredient or dish.
By completing this course, you will be more confident in the variety of meals and drinks you can provide, thus improving your client’s quality of life.
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Delivery Methods |
Onsite & Online |
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Cost |
Contact us |
Our Preparing Food and Drink – International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) course is for:
- Support workers and carers, including families and friends, responsible for preparing meals and drinks for clients with dysphagia.
- Facility kitchen staff who would like to ensure they are meeting the IDDSI guidelines
- Allied health professionals who form part of the wider support team for individuals with dysphagia looking to enhance their knowledge around meals.
What you will learn:
- Understanding of International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
- Understanding of the eight levels of food and fluid consistencies within IDDSI.
- The guidelines for each consistency and how they should present.
- Tips for preparing and for improving presentation.
- Understanding of IDDSI testing methods and practical use.
- How to adjust food preparation to align with IDDSI guidelines.
- Examples of foods and those to avoid (as well as useful link to IDDSI consistency cookbooks)
- Review of your food preparation skills within IDDSI guidelines.
Learn from experienced Speech Pathologists
Natasha Blackmore | Director and Senior Speech Pathologist
Natasha is the founder and director of Speak and Swallow. With over 14 years of experience, she is very passionate about enhancing the wellbeing and quality of life of her clients. At every step, she encourages collaboration and inspires trust through open, honest, and transparent communication. Natasha drives her team to put treatment plans into action and achieve real results. In particular, Natasha has a strong interest in dysphagia quality of life and working with clients with progressive neurological conditions. She considers it a privilege to be part of her client’s journey to improve their health, wellbeing, and connection. Natasha is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and the Laryngology Society of Australasia. When she isn’t working, Natasha can be found running marathons, wakeboarding, or spending time with her little girl.
Amy Sparks | Speech Pathologist
Amy completed a Bachelor of Speech Pathology with Honours at James Cook University in 2022. Amy is a Speech Pathology Australia member, and has worked with the Speak and Swallow team since graduating and has continued to grow her passion and commitment to supporting and empowering both clients and their families. She has a special interest in dysphagia (swallowing disorder) and is particularly passionate about providing care in palliative settings. Amy is always keen to learn, and has continued to expand her clinical knowledge by completing a range of professional development courses focusing on dysphagia biomechanics vs anatomy rehabilitation and tracheostomy management. Currently, Amy is exploring the “breathing space” to better support her clients with techniques that improve breathing, communication, and swallowing. When not at work, Amy enjoys having quality time with family and friends, exploring, swimming, camping and playing in community sporting teams.