In this three-part series within ‘What’s got us talking…’, researcher and person with swallowing disability Fiona Given helps us to understand the many factors affecting a person with difficulty swallowing. Across the three episodes, Fiona brings together the perspectives of people with lived experience of swallowing difficulty, their supporters, and health professionals.

In this episode, Fiona and her guests focus on lived experience of swallowing disability across the lifespan - how swallowing changes over time, how it affects independence and identity, and what it takes to stay safe while still staying part of the social world of food. Gain insight into the issues that matter when co‑designing safe and enjoyable meals for people with swallowing disability.

Thanks to the University of Technology Sydney Disability Access and Inclusion Fund for supporting co-production of this series.

Resources:

Hemsley, B., Almond, B., Given, F., Darcy, S., L’Espoir Decosta, P., Dann, S., … Balandin, S. (2024). Craving inclusion: a systematic review on the experiences and needs of people with disability eating out. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46(22), 5183–5198. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2295006

International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative - https://www.iddsi.org/home

National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality & Safeguards Commission (2020) Practice Alert Dysphagia, safe swallowing, and mealtime management - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/practice-alert-dysphagia-safe-swallowing-and-mealtime-management.pdf

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Worker training modules (go to ‘Supporting Safe and Enjoyable Meals’ module) - https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workforce/online-training-modules

Speech Pathology Australia, fact sheet, Swallowing difficulty - https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/Comm-swallow/Swallowing.aspx

Safer Care Victoria (2026) GUIDANCE – Communicating Safe Eating and Drinking (Victoria State Government, Australia) - https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/GUIDANCE%20-%20Communicating%20safe%20eating%20and%20drinking%20-%20Accessible.docx

Host: Fiona Given

Guests: Meredith Allan (Person with lived experience of dysphagia, food choking, and changes in swallowing across the lifespan), Adjunct Professor Dr Jeffrey Chan, and Professor Bronwyn Hemsley

Producer: Ali Aitken

Assistant Producers: Bronwyn Hemsley, Fiona Given