Question 1

What is an Accredited Practising Dietitian?

Accepted Answer

Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are university-qualified nutrition professionals that help manage a range of health conditions using medical nutrition therapy. They understand how nutrition affects the body and will give you expert nutrition and dietary advice to help you achieve your health and wellbeing goals.
 
They continue to undertake regular nutrition training and education to make sure they are up-to-date with the latest evidence to help you sort fact from fiction. Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals recognised by the Australian Government and Medicare as they are your most credible source of nutrition information.

Question 2

What is the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist?

Accepted Answer

In Australia there is a difference between a dietitian and other nutritional health providers including nutritionists. All dietitians are nutritionists, but nutritionists without a dietetics qualification can't call themselves a dietitian. While there are similarities between a dietitian and nutritionist there are differences in qualifications and regulation.  The dietetic profession is regulated and meets strict standards as set out by the National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP). All dietitians have graduated with an accredited dietetics degree  from an Australian university or studied overseas and undergone strict examination processes. Dietitians with the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) credential commit to ongoing training and education throughout their careers. They adhere to a Code of Conduct. Dietitians have the knowledge and skills found in the National Competency Standards for Dietitians.
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As a profession, nutritionists are not regulated in Australia under NASRHP or certified under a single regulatory body. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of their qualifications.

Question 3

Why is Nutrition Important?

Accepted Answer

Nutrition is essential for maintaining optimal health and well-being, as it provides the body with the necessary nutrients to function effectively.  Nutrition and a therapeutic diet indirectly affects all aspects of a person's life by influencing physical health, mental well-being, and daily functioning.

For those with disabilities, proper nutrition can help to manage managing symptoms and mood, enhance the effectiveness of other allied health interventions (such as physiotherapy), improve social interactions (especially during mealtimes) and ultimately fuels the body with energy so participants can engage in activities of their choosing. While poor nutrition can impair cognitive functioning, exacerbate chronic conditions, increase levels of fatigue and mood disorders, and physical limitations which can impact work, social life, and overall quality of life.

In essence, good nutrition creates a solid foundation for all aspects of life and is the is key to optimising health.

Question 4

How can a dietitian help me?

Accepted Answer

Dietitians can help with the following:

Help you make positive healthy eating behaviour changes
Improve relationship with food
Develop nutrition management plans that work alongside your mealtime management plan
Prescribe and check my tube feeding plan 
Choose my tube feeding consumables including feeds and equipment
Work with and train staff members or informal supports (such as family members) when required (e.g. for tube feeding training, diabetes management)
Teach you how to plan a menu, shop and budget for food
Alongside an occupational therapist (if required), teach you (and your support workers) how to prepare and cook healthy, therapeutically appropriate meals at home 
Talk about and recommend food, drinks or supplements to improve nutrition and health 
Recommend and advocate on your behalf for supports required for both physical and psychological disabilities
Support gut health
Assist you to access services that will improve you oral intake (e.g. meal delivery service, oral nutrition supplements, advocating for a support worker to help with cooking meals
Participate in case conferences with all key stakeholders to improve communication, overall team performance and provide a higher level of care

Question 5

How often should I see a dietitian?

Accepted Answer

Initially, we recommend more frequent sessions because changing nutrition habits can be challenging. Regular appointments, whether weekly or every two weeks, will help build momentum and deepen your understanding of how food affects the body. As you start to make progress, we can adjust to less frequent appointments, such as monthly or quarterly, to keep supporting you as needed.

Question 6

Do dietitians only develop meal plans?

Accepted Answer

Dietitians do much more than just create meal plans. We start by assessing your individual health needs and nutritional status. Based on this, we may develop personalised meal plans if appropriate, or we will most likely start by adjusting your current dietary intake, as this approach is usually more manageable and achievable. We also offer guidance to manage specific disabilities and health conditions, as well as educate and support you in making healthy choices and changing habits. We'll regularly monitor your progress, adjust plans as needed, and work with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care. Our goal is to help you make lasting, positive changes that support your overall health and well-being.

Question 7

Is my dietitian going to ask me to make lots of changes all at once?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. We consider where you are at in your health journey and aim for small, achievable changes which may only be only one change per week. On the other hand, if you’re very motivated to make positive changes, we’ll help you tackle as many as you’re able to handle.

Question 8

Do you have a clinic I can attend?

Accepted Answer

Although we don’t have a physical clinic, we’re excited to offer our mobile services directly to you in the Gold Coast and Logan areas. We look forward to bringing our care and support right to your doorstep.

We prefer to provide visits to our participant’s homes to understand the food setup, check for any food safety issues, and see if they have the necessary kitchen tools. This helps in creating practical strategies that fit their daily routines, cultural preferences, and with consideration for what is feasible for them to prepare. It also helps us to also learn about family dynamics to ensure everyone supports the dietary changes and to educate family members on healthy cooking.  We’ve also heard from many of our participants that they experience anxiety with their disability, especially when out in the community so home visits mean they can feel more relaxed and open in an environment familiar to them, leading to more honest and productive discussions.

Question 9

Do I need a referral from my doctor?

Accepted Answer

Only those wanting to utilise a medicare rebate through a chronic disease management plan, will have to seek a referral from their GP.

Question 10

Can I reschedule or cancel my appointment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, however, that if the request to cancel or reschedule falls within the short notice cancellation period or you do not show up for your appointment, fees will apply.  This is because we reserve this time slot specifically for you and it is unlikely we can fill your spot within the short notice period as well as no notice means you’ve prevented someone else from being able to book that time.  We appreciate having advance notice so we can offer the appointment to another participant who may need it.

Question 11

Why are there no testimonials on your website?

Accepted Answer

Like many other regulated health professionals, Dietitians Australia and the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (section 133) does not allow the use of testimonials for promotional purposes. This is to safeguard your privacy and make sure that you and your situation are respected and not used for promotional or financial purposes. For further information on the Dietitian Code of Conduct, please click the following link: https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/media/831

Accessible Weighing Solutions:
We have Portable Wheelchair Scales available to provide accurate measurements at home!

FAQs