Nutrition is a key national research and health priority. Poor nutrition is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, currently identified as National Health Priority areas such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, specific cancers, as well as osteoporosis, asthma and poor mental health which are estimated to account for 80% of Australia’s total disease burden, causing premature death, disability and diminished quality of life. Understanding and optimising nutrition behaviours has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of disease in Australia and improve quality of life. Improved dietary intakes are likely to have significant economic benefits for Australia, with long-term gains in productivity and reductions in both direct and indirect healthcare costs. Understanding the dietary patterns and behaviours of Australian is foundational knowledge in nutrition science and a cornerstone of research, practice and policy in nutrition and dietetics. It underpins the evidence-base for developing and evaluating nutrition programs, strategies, and policies. This presentation will provide a summary and overview of dietary patterns and key nutritional issues of Australians drawing on data collected from a variety of sources over the last 50 years across all levels of the food system such as food supply food purchasing/acquisition, e.g. food expenditure, food type, price and quantity of food purchased and food security; and national nutrition surveys of food and nutrient intake and nutritional status. It will outline the critical nature of this foundational knowledge for developing implementing evaluating nutrition strategies, interventions, and policies, and provide perspectives on future directions.