Dietetics
Welcome to Early Links Dietetics
Our Dietetics Team is looking forward to supporting you and your family to achieve optimal nutritional intake. We are passionate about evidence-based practice and tailor all interventions to our client’s individual needs. We are a weight neutral team that treats you with the dignity and respect you deserve regardless of body size, shape, or ability to guide you to achieve your personal goals.
What does a dietitian do?
Dietitians are specialist nutrition experts. At Early Links, we are a team of Accredited Practising Dietitians (APD’s). This means we are tertiary trained nutrition experts that must meet annual registration requirements upheld by our governing body, Dietitians Australia.
Dietitians can provide nutrition counselling, education, and support to assist in preventing and managing a multitude of chronic diseases and mental health conditions. Some examples of this might include education and management of newly diagnosed diabetes, nutrition assessment and counselling with eating disorders, or nutrition management of irritable bowel disease.
Who can our dietitians help?
Our dieticians can help children, teens, and adults with a wide range of issues, including:
- Picky or restricted diet, or sensory food-related behaviours
- Failure to thrive, faltering growth or other growth concerns
- Toileting & gastric issues (intolerances, constipation, IBS, etc.)
- Oral motor skills and nutrition support
- Meal planning, budgeting, healthy food choices and shopping
- Enteral feeding (NGT, PGT or supplement used to complement oral intake)
- Chronic disease (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, neurological conditions, etc.)
- Neurological conditions (Parkinson’s, epilepsy, MND, brain injuries, paraplegia, etc.)
- Food and nutrition counselling to support behaviour change
- Eating disorders
Do I need a referral to see a dietitian?
If you want to see an Early Links, dietitian, using Medicare, then you will need an enhanced primary care plan from your GP. You are eligible for up to five sessions in a calendar year as long as these have not been used by another allied health professional.
If you are privately funded or an NDIS participant then you don’t need a referral, you can fill in the contact form below.
Meet our friendly Dietetics Team
Olive
Dietetics Team Leader
Olive studied at UNSW, Charles Sturt University and Otago University (New Zealand), where she achieved her Masters in Dietetics.
With a thesis in cooking with adolescents, Olive is passionate about child and adolescent health and equipping young people with the skills to help them confidently look after themselves.
Throughout Olive’s career, she has worked with a wide range of clients of all ages. Olive specialises in paediatric feeding disorders, picky eating, eating disorders, gastric related issues (IBS, IBD, food intolerances), enteral feeding and general nutrition for health and wellbeing.
Laura
Dietitian
Laura completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle and graduated with Honours Class 1.
Laura is passionate about helping clients develop healthy and positive relationships with food. She enjoys working collaboratively with clients to make realistic and healthy lifestyle changes to achieve their goals.
Laura has experience providing nutrition support therapy and counselling in eating disorders, restrictive eating, oncology, diabetes, chronic disease, gastrointestinal conditions, neurological conditions, healthy eating, and weight management.
Josie
Dietitian
Josie completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle. She is passionate about supporting children who struggle with feeding disorders, nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal issues, growth concerns and allergies or intolerances.
Josie has completed additional training in feeding therapy with Feeding Therapy Australia. She is particularly interested in gut health and supporting individuals with functional gut disorders. She completed the Monash University Low FODMAP Diet for IBS training and uses this knowledge to provide clients with strategies and dietary changes.
Hollie
Dietitian
Hollie completed her Bachelor of Science (Nutrition & Metabolism) and Master of Nutrition & Dietetics at the University of Sydney. Hollie is passionate about a holistic and balanced approach to health and nutrition, focusing on education and empowering individuals to manage their health and wellbeing long-term.
Hollie has completed additional training in the Health At Every Size (HAES) approach. She has experience managing diabetes, paediatric allergy, renal disease, nutrition during pregnancy, early infant feeding, public health nutrition and group nutrition programs.
Which areas do our dietitians cover?
Aberdeen, Abermain, Bellbird, Beresfield, Bolwarra, Branxton, Cessnock, Chisholm, Cliftleigh, Dungog, East Maitland, Gillieston Heights, Greta, Heddon Greta, Hinton, Kurri Kurri, Laguna, Lochinvar, Lorn, Maitland, Morpeth, Muswellbrook, Paterson, Raworth, Raymond Terrace, Rothbury, Rutherford, Singleton, Stroud, Tarro, Telarah, Tenambit, Thornton, Vacy, Windella, Wollombi, Woodberry and more.
Telehealth sessions are also an option if appropriate for the individual or group participants instead of face-to-face sessions.
How do I start working with a dietitian at Early Links?
If you’re ready to get started or just want to find out more, you can use the form below to get in touch with us.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, explain what would be involved and tell you all about the support we can offer.
Get In Touch
Please complete the form below to contact Early Links. Our friendly team will be very happy to assist you.
Contact us
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
Accredited Practising Dietitians have a minimum four-year degree in nutrition and disease-related nutrition training with compulsory placements in multiple health care settings. These courses need to meet national guidelines to guarantee graduates an APD status.
A nutritionist can be anyone with an interest in nutrition, and no formal training or registration is required for a person to use that title.
Why consult a dietitian?
Consulting a dietitian can help give you peace of mind knowing that your or your child’s nutritional needs are being met. Whether it be for an existing condition, something new, or to learn more about your dietary needs, our dietitians can help you achieve all your big and small goals.
What can I expect from my dietitian appointment?
The first appointment with your dietitian will involve questions to get to know you and your past medical history, discuss health concerns, and nutrition goals. The frequency and number of sessions after the initial assessment will be determined by how much support your dietitian recommends based on your needs.
Can dietitians prescribe medication?
Australian dietitians are not registered prescribers and so are not able to prescribe medicines. However, dietitians can recommend appropriate nutritional supplements to your GP for prescribing or for you to purchase over the counter.
Are dietitians registered with AHPRA?
Accredited Practicing Dietitians have their own governing body, Dietitians Australia, where you can locate and find local APD’s.
Are dietitians covered by Medicare?
Yes, dietitians in Australia who meet strict criteria are eligible to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program. APD is the only credential for dietitians recognised by Medicare and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and many private health insurers.
Do dietitians help you lose weight?
Dietitians can assist people in achieving their goals, including pursuing weight loss and weight gain.
Is the correct spelling dietitian or dietician?
As you may have noticed, the correct spelling of dietitian is spelt with a ‘t’. The lesser-used variant, dietician with a ‘c’, was changed due to medical staff using the ‘-cian’ ending, like paediatrician.