Dietitian Appointments

What does a Dietitian do?

A dietitian is a health professional that focuses on all areas of diet and nutrition; they are trained in medication nutrition therapy to use your diet to improve your health and wellbeing. Dietitians most commonly work in hospitals and offer private consultations, however you can also find them in telehealth services, aged care, public health, or even corporate settings.

There are a number of driving forces behind what you eat; the foods you choose can be influenced by taste preferences, emotions, social environment, mental health and much more. A Dietitian can help you to address these different areas, using their knowledge of nutrition, alongside counselling skills to help make long lasting behaviour change.

There is often a misconception that a dietitian will put you on a diet, writing up a rigid meal plan that you must follow, and cutting out all the foods you enjoy. Whilst there may be some very rare settings where this is appropriate, for most people the key to a healthy diet is finding a healthy way to include the foods you enjoy.

What can I speak to a Dietitian about?

• Weight loss
• Weight gain
• Vegan/Vegetarian Diets
• Diabetes
• High Cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Coeliac disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

In some cases our dietitian may recommend referring you on to another health professional, as this may be the best option for your treatment. Some cases may require a specialist or input from a multidisciplinary team (e.g. psychologist, exercise physiologist, endocrinologist etc.), and it is our goal to ensure you are receiving the highest level of care.

What will my first Dietitian appointment include?

Our initial appointments are 60 minutes long to help cover all aspects of your diet and lifestyle; this is to allow enough time to cover anything that may be impacting your diet. Before your appointment we ask you to complete an assessment form as a guide; this includes medical history, mental health, blood tests, a rough food diary, and information about your typical eating patterns. This allows our Dietitians to prepare for your appointment making effective use of the time they spend working with you to achieve your goals.

On the call they will work with you to reach any health goals you have; helping to identify any issues and working on strategies to address them. Each consultation will be different from the next; some may focus on practical strategies to make healthy choices more accessible, whereas others might focus on counselling around reducing guilt around eating certain foods.

Book your first consult

What will my follow up Dietitian appointments include?

Follow up appointments are designed to provide any further troubleshooting as well as ongoing accountability to make life-long behaviour changes. Each subsequent appointment will be a check-in to monitor your progress and provide any tweaks to your plan. The frequency of appointments will be decided between you and your dietitian as to what will work best. 

Book your follow up consult

What is a telehealth Dietitian?

A telehealth Dietitian is someone that offers their health services remotely e.g. via video, or phone call. The main focus of a consultation is discussing your health, lifestyle and working together to set goals and strategies in the comfort of your own home. Whilst some value the connection you can get in a face-to-face session, others find the convenience, comfort, improved access and costs of online health care outweigh the loss of face to face interactions.

Most health services will now have telehealth consultations offered to help reduce the burden of in person visits (traffic, parking, wait times etc.). Online healthcare platforms have become more popular in recent years. These can range from video consultations, prescriptions, general health checks, or medical certificates - all of which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home.

Visit Our Online Prescription Service

Visit Our Medical Certificate Service

How do I find a Dietitian near me?

The easiest way to find a dietitian near you is to look for an online service, as the focus of the consultation is general discussion and counselling. Alternatively, you can use Dietitians Australia’s Find a Dietitian tool. Online Dietitian services can be accessed anywhere in Australia or you can find a number of face to face services in most large cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin.

What is a Dietitian vs a Nutritionist?

The main difference between the two is the level of education required to hold the title of a Nutritionist vs. a Dietitian. All Dietitians are nutritionists, however a Nutritionist does not necessarily have the qualifications to call themselves a dietitian. 

To hold the title of Accredited Practising Dietitian in Australia you must meet the requirements outlined by Dietitian’s Australia (DA). This includes a minimum of a 4 year university degree recognised by DA, and 30 hours of continued education each year. The term ‘Nutritionist’ is not a protected term, which means that a nutritionist may have no formal education or training. 

It is always best to check the credentials of any health professional you work with, you can do this using DA’s register of Accredited Practising Dietitians.

Do I need a referral for a Dietitian?

You do not need a referral to see our Dietitian privately. Patients with chronic disease management plans may be eligible for rebates from medicare if referred by their doctor. Unfortunately we are unable to accept these referrals at this time.

Will I receive a meal plan as part of this service?

You can - but it is often not the best solution. A meal plan does not give you the skills and understanding of how to build a healthy diet, whilst also setting you up for disappointment when you stray from the plan. Our dietitian will work with you to develop the skills of planning your meals and work on behaviour change to improve your health.

Are Dietitian appointments bulk billed?

No, dietitian services are not bulk billed. Although, medicare can provide partial rebates for appointments when referred by your GP through a Chronic Disease Management Plan.