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What is a dietitian and how can they help?

Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) translate scientific information about nutrition into practical advice about what to eat.

Our Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) can:

  • Assess peoples nutritional needs
  • Develop personalised eating plans and nutritional guidelines
  • Provide information on healthy eating, reading food labels, choosing the best foods when shopping and eating out, and healthy ways to prepare food
  • Sort nutrition fact from fiction
  • Undertake nutrition and food research
  • Train health care professionals
  • Develop nutrition communications, programs and policies.

APDs work in a diverse range of fields including patient care in hospitals and nursing homes, community nutrition and public health, consultancy and private practice, food service and management, the food and medical nutrition industries, public relations, marketing and communications, government, and research and teaching.

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

In Australia, there is a distinction made between dietitians and other occupations in the nutrition and food science field, including that of nutritionist.

The key difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist is that, in addition to or as part of their qualification in human nutrition, a dietitian has undertaken a course of study that included substantial theory and supervised and assessed professional practice in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service management.

Therefore, in Australia, all dietitians are considered to be nutritionists however, nutritionists without a dietetics qualification cannot take on the specialised role of a dietitian.

How can a dietitian help you?

Types of problems that our dietitian can assist with include:

  • Weight loss (and/or body fat loss)
  • Weight gain
  • Sports nutrition
  • Diabetes
  • Cholesterol lowering
  • Adults, children and older adults
  • Healthier eating for singles or families
  • Digestive problems
  • Eating disorders

MEDICARE EPC
Our dietitians are registered Medicare EPC providers. If you have been issued with a Medicare EPC referral from your GP, we can bulk bill your appointment (up to five services per calendar year) to Medicare. Please speak to your GP about eligibility.*

*Please note: There may be a gap payment when seeing certain dietitians.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
If you are covered for dietetics through your private health fund, we have HICAPS facilities on-site and can process your claim at the time of consultation.

Find your nearest Dietitian

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