About Australian Dietitians

About Australian Dietitians

Dietitians provide food and nutrition information to help people improve their health. They advise individuals and groups on nutrition-related matters and can modify diets to treat or help manage conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer, food allergies and intolerances.

There are no rules governing the use of the terms ‘dietitian’ and ‘nutritionist’. Both are used by people with limited nutrition training or training that is not acceptable to the Dietitians's Asssociation of Australia (DAA). When choosing a dietitian, make sure they have a university degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with a major in Dietetics and experience in helping people with similar health and nutrition challenges as you.

Dietitians work in a range of fields
Dietitians work in many different fields, including:

Patient care – dietitians in hospitals develop menus to meet specific nutritional needs. They educate patients and their families on eating well in the context of their medical problems, working with them to ensure that their diets are suitable and achievable once they have left hospital. In nursing homes, dietitians oversee the nutritional needs of elderly and infirm patients.
Private practice and consultancy – dietitians work with individuals, groups and organisations to provide dietary advice and to run health and nutrition education programs and seminars. They may also provide nutrition and health information to the media.
Community and public health – dietitians work to improve eating habits, health and wellbeing at the local level (such as community health centres) and at state and national levels where they participate in the establishment and implementation of nutrition policies and procedures for the whole population.
Food industry – dietitians work in commercial operations to improve the nutritional quality of foods, to develop nutrition education campaigns, promote food safety and work with food law and regulations.
Research and teaching – dietitians investigate the links between food and health to grow the body of knowledge of how diet can promote good health and prevent disease. They also teach in universities.
Sports nutrition – dietitians help athletes, sporting clubs, children and those interested in fitness to eat better to achieve their goals. Their advice may be related to helping people achieve peak sporting performance or to improving energy and activity levels.

Dietitian Consultations - What to Expect

The initial consultation may run for around 45 mins to 1 hour. The Dietitian will ask detailed questions about your current diet, exercise habits, general health and lifestyle. These questions allow the dietitian to tailor an eating plan that fits your lifestyle and suits your food preferences.

If you have a specific medical problem and have been referred to a dietitian by your doctor, the dietitian will work in close consultation with your doctor and may review blood and other test results to devise a suitable diet.

Follow-up appointments allow the dietitian to keep track of your progress, fine-tune your eating plan and give you motivational support. The dietitian’s ultimate aim is to educate you on how to eat in a way that will keep you healthy so that you can choose the best food on your own.

Typical Consultation Fees?

Consultations with dietitians who work in public hospitals and community health centres are free of charge. Privately practicing dietitians may charge anywhere from $50 to $150 for the initial consultation. Follow-up appointments are usually shorter and less expensive. Some dietitians offer long-term programs at a fixed cost that includes regular consultations, making ongoing advice and counselling great value for money. Some dietitians offer concession prices.

Many private health funds offer rebates for these services and some dietetic consultations provided by APDs are covered under the Medicare Allied Health Care Initiative.

Dietitians Choice
PO Box 284 Laurieton NSW 2443
Telephone: 1800 80 61 71
Fax: 02 6559 7797
Email: dietitian@dietitianschoice.com.au