Mikaela Wheeler

Dr. Mikaela Wheeler is a lecturer in the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, possessing clinical and research expertise as a dietitian-nutritionist in residential aged care and community settings. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences, Master of Dietetics Studies (coursework), and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland. Her PhD, awarded in 2023 from the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, focused on 'Increasing choice, flexibility, and personalisation in foodservices in residential aged care: design and cost'. Wheeler's research utilizes mixed methods and co-design methodologies to enhance the lives of older people by developing system designs that address critical issues such as poor nutrition, social isolation, loneliness, and specialized care for those living with dementia, particularly through innovations in foodservices within residential aged care facilities.

In her teaching role, Wheeler delivers undergraduate courses covering chronic disease management and nutrition across the lifespan, and she contributes to the Advocacy and Public Health teaching team within the Medical Program. She also serves as Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee in the School of Public Health. Her scholarly contributions include several peer-reviewed publications, such as 'Choice on the menu in residential aged care: An underrated tool for maintaining resident autonomy' (Nutrition and Dietetics, 2025, with Abbey and Capra); 'Menu assessment tools used in residential aged care: a scoping review of content and quality' (Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2025, with Bartrim et al.); 'Choice on the menu: increasing meal choice for people living in residential aged care, a pilot study' (Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2024, with Abbey and Capra); 'Dietary patterns of competitive swimmers with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy: A 3-year longitudinal evaluation' (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023, with Walker et al.); 'Costing foodservices in aged care is more than food alone: the development of the FCT' (Nutrients, 2022, with Abbey and Capra); and 'Meal choice for residential aged care is not yet defined: a scoping review of policies, standards, reports and guidelines' (Nutrition and Dietetics, 2022, with Abbey and Capra). Additionally, she presented 'Calculating the true costs of food service in long-term care: Development of a costing methodology' at the GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting and secured a research donation grant for 'Barriers and enablers for increasing meal choice in the aged care system' (2020-2021).

Professional Email: m.wheeler@uq.edu.au