Chef David Martin has spent nearly two decades evolving from hotel fine-dining apprentice to one of Australia’s leading innovators in aged-care hospitality. In this episode, he shares how early mentorship, a strong family foundation and a deep love of food shaped his career.

David talks about the moment he realised the traditional hospitality path wasn’t sustainable for the life he wanted and what ultimately drew him into aged care. He explains why he believes it’s now one of the most exciting frontiers in hospitality and how he’s helping redefine food experiences for older Australians with the launch of his new One Plate At A Time resource hub.

We explore his work with St Vincent’s, leading hotel services across Victoria and New South Wales, the growth of his talented team and the role technology now plays in delivering consistent, high-quality meals at scale. David also reflects on his competition journey from national events to competing on the international stage in London and how that experience fuels his mission to elevate aged-care dining.

If you’re curious about modern aged-care food, kitchen team leadership, or creating meaningful change in an industry ready for reinvention, this conversation is packed with insight and heart.

Episode Highlights:

David’s fine-dining beginnings, early mentors and family influences
Why David moved into aged care and how he built trust in a new setting
The evolving expectations of residents and why aged care is an emerging hospitality frontier
David’s focus on quality, including texture-modified meals
Launch of One Plate At A Time - Industry Resource
Competition experience and his leadership across St Vincent’s homes
Building a strong team, embracing technology and shaping a fresh seasonal menu

Whether you’re a chef, a hospitality leader or simply someone who believes food can create real connection, this conversation offers plenty of heart, insight and inspiration.

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This episode is proudly brought to you by Squizify, a digital platform that replaces old paper-based processes with modern digital solutions to help operators improve their efficiencies. To learn more, take a squiz at https://squizify.com/

Follow & Connect with David Martin, One Plate At A Time

https://linktr.ee/davidmartin32

Connect with your hosts:

Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr
Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon

Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au

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Chef David Martin: Why Aged Care Dining Is Australia's Most Important Food Challenge