MEALS on Wheels volunteer Joan Doyle is leading a campaign to have the program maintained by the Mornington Peninsula council after they announced they were ending its funding.
After a private meeting on 9 June the Mornington Peninsula Shire council announced a transition away from aged care services to come in line with new Commonwealth Government reforms to the aged care sector.
But after a change of mind from the government, federal minister for aged care and seniors Sam Rae announced funding for programs such as Meals on Wheels will be reinstated.
Despite the backflip from the government, the Mornington Peninsula Council has stuck by its decision to no longer deliver aged care services, such as Meals on Wheels, and other programs the elderly rely on such as Dial-A-Bus and Outings & Excursions as of 30 June 2027.
Meals on wheels is a program that offers home-delivered meals to older adults in Victoria, including on the Mornington Peninsula.
Doyle who has been a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program for over five years has highlighted how important programs is for the elderly in the community.
“The program provides meals to people in need, it helps keep elderly connected to the community and creates a friendship between the volunteers and the clients,” said Doyle.
“Some of the people we deliver to need a well-fair check, sometimes when we deliver a meal it will be the only time that person sees another person for the entire day.”
“We all know loneliness and socialisation can really have health implications for elderly people so it’s about keeping them in the community and enjoying life.”
“It’s more than just the meal that we provide.”
Doyle also worries about what will happen if the program is privatised.
“There will be less accountability, if it’s thrown to the private sector, and I’m sure prices to provide such services will go up.”
The Meals on Wheels program provides over 80,000 meals each year to over 600 clients and has been running for over fifty-years.
The Mornington Peninsula is home to the highest contingency of people over 65 in Victoria.
While leading the protest to have Meals on Wheels reinstated, Doyle has asked Briars by-election candidates their thoughts on the continuation of the program post June 2027.
The by-election which will be taking place in October of this year will be contested between two independent candidates, Christine Leahy and Sue Ellison-Whyte.
Both acknowledge the importance of programs such as Meals on Wheels and want to see it continued if the circumstances are right.
“At this stage, I am not in a position to give a definitive yes or no, but I want to assure you that I take this issue seriously,” said Leahy.
“I understand how significant these services are for many people across the Mornington Peninsula, particularly given the high proportion of seniors who call the Mornington Peninsula home.”
Ellison-Whyte has said she supports council reconsidering its decision on ending the meals on wheels program, subject to the updated financial and regulatory information.
“I would be supportive of continuing these important services where the evidence demonstrates continuation would be in the best interest of the community,” said Ellison-Whyte.
Along with fellow volunteers, Doyle plans to attend to the next two council meetings on 29 September and 27 October to demonstrate to councillors how important programs aimed to helping the elderly are.
“Everyone is keen to see this program keep on going, and everyone’s very keen to keep on putting pressure on the council,” said Doyle.
“We really want to show that the community really need Meals on Wheels and we really want to council to deliver.”
First published in the Mornington News – 22 September 2026
