Julie Cichero

Julie works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to address the complex issues of eating, drinking and swallowing issues (dysphagia). For a decade, Julie was Co-Chair of IDDSI, an international initiative to reduce food-related choking risk in vulnerable populations across the lifespan. The IDDSI Framework is a volunteer initiative that is being rolled out in more than 50 countries around the world, supported by organisations such as the UK’s NHS Improvement, the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations, the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders and more than 18 professional associations. In 2016, the IDDSI Board was given the award for Outstanding International contribution by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. In 2022, SNOMED International and IDDSI signed an agreement to incorporate the IDDSI Framework 2.0 into SNOMED CT to enable use in electronic medical records globally. In Australia, Julie was Speech Pathology Australia’s representative to the 2021 working party and Congress of the Australian Department of Health and Maggie Beer Foundation to improve nutrition and the dining experience in aged care in Australia, and one of the speakers at the invitation only event. From 2022-2024, Julie served as a clinical expert to the Aged Care Standards Expert Working Group for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care for the new Strengthed Age Care Standards, that came into effect on 1 Nov 2025. Julie also assists with Coronial investigations as a subject matter expert on dysphagia. In addition to food/drink related swallowing problems, Julie works collaboratively with pharmacists to address the challenges of providing medication to people with swallowing problems. She has contributed to the Society of Hospital Pharmacist's 'Don't Rush to Crush' Handbook since its inception and with updates.