Health & Nutrition
Dairy Australia engages with healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders to promote dairy’s evidence-based health benefits, so they are recognised and supported.
Healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals are a trusted source of health and nutrition advice, and play a crucial role in shaping public attitudes toward dairy. Dairy Australia engages thousands of dietitians, general practitioners, practice nurses and dentists to support their guidance reflecting the latest research and reinforcing dairy’s role in a healthy diet.
While dairy’s role in bone health is widely recognised in the Australian Dietary Guidelines, its benefits go far beyond that. Dairy supports childhood growth and physical and cognitive development, fuels active lifestyles, promotes dental health and helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. It also plays a vital role in healthy ageing by preserving bone density and muscle mass.
Dairy Australia engages health professionals to help them understand the full breadth of dairy’s health credentials, as well as address common barriers and misinformation around dairy foods. By sharing evidence-based insights, we promote dairy’s place in a balanced, sustainable diet.
Research
Dairy Australia strategically invests in or co-funds health and nutrition research that delivers a strong evidence base to promote the health benefits of consuming Australian dairy. We provide expert input to international committees that decide on key health and nutrition issues that require investment in dairy research.
An example of this research is the University of Melbourne-led Fractures Trial on the benefit of dairy consumption in the elderly. This research found that increasing serves of dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt and skim milk powder) from an average of 2 to 3.5 serves per day resulted in:
- 33 per cent reduction in all fractures.
- 46 per cent reduction in hip fractures.
- 11 per cent reduction in falls.
- Improved calcium and protein intakes.
It also projects savings of $66 million a year to the Australian health system, at a cost of only $0.66 per resident per day, based on an economic study by Monash University.
We work with the wider dairy industry to understand the impact of this research and to inform decision making by government, the aged care sector, older people and the broader community. We are focusing on providing practical advice to the aged care sector to adopt the findings of this research and improve dairy intake in aged care residents.
Policy
Dairy Australia monitors and responds to the complex policy and regulatory environment. We engage with health and nutrition key opinion leaders including academics, government representatives and other influential players to stay ahead of regulatory and policy changes affecting dairy.
We provide expert input and evidence to inform food regulation and policy changes, including the revision of the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Health Star Rating system. This continues the recognition of milk, cheese and yoghurt in guidelines and by experts for their nutrient density, unique health benefits and their positive contribution to health outcomes in the Australian population.