Dietetics in New South Wales & Queensland

An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is a clinical nutrition professional who assesses your nutritional status, identifies any dietary gaps relative to your health conditions and goals, and works with you to develop an evidence-based, individualised nutrition plan. CAHC dietitians support a broad range of conditions, including chronic disease management (diabetes, cardiovascular risk, gut health), cancer nutrition, pregnancy and paediatric nutrition, aged care malnutrition, NDIS-funded dietary support, and eating disorder support as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Dietitians are not diet planners or general wellness coaches — they are university-trained, APD-accredited professionals whose credential is required for Medicare, NDIS, and DVA billing.

In Australia, ‘dietitian’ is a protected professional title — all practising dietitians must hold APD (Accredited Practising Dietitian) status through Dietitians Australia, which requires a minimum four-year university degree and ongoing continuing professional development. ‘Nutritionist’ is not a protected title in Australia — anyone can call themselves a nutritionist without formal qualifications or professional accreditation. When choosing a nutrition professional for clinical or funded care, APD status is the credential to look for. Only APD-accredited dietitians can bill Medicare, NDIS, and DVA — a nutritionist cannot access these funded pathways. All CAHC dietitians are APD-accredited members of Dietitians Australia.

No GP referral is required for a private (self-funded) dietitian appointment at CAHC — you can book directly. A GP referral and CDM plan are required to access Medicare-rebated dietitian sessions (up to five individual or eight group sessions per calendar year for eligible chronic conditions). For NDIS-funded sessions, a GP referral is not typically required — your support coordinator can refer directly. For DVA-funded consultations, a D904 referral form is required from your GP or treating doctor. For eating disorder support, a GP referral is recommended to allow for coordinated care across the CAHC Dietitian and Psychology team.

Yes. Dietetics is an eligible allied health discipline under Medicare’s Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan. Patients with a chronic condition of six months or more can access up to five individual dietitian sessions per calendar year with a GP referral. A gap payment (out-of-pocket cost) may apply. Rebate amounts are subject to change — confirm current rates with your GP or the clinic.

Medicare CDM allows eligible patients to access up to eight group allied health sessions per calendar year in addition to the five individual sessions. Group dietitian programs — such as diabetes nutrition groups — can be a cost-effective option for patients managing ongoing chronic conditions. Rebate amounts are subject to change — confirm current rates with your GP or the clinic.

Yes. Dietetics is funded under NDIS Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living (therapy supports) for eligible participants with disability-related nutritional needs. This includes food selectivity, chronic health conditions, metabolic support, and paediatric nutrition needs. Eligibility depends on your individual NDIS plan goals — speak with your support coordinator or contact us to confirm. CAHC accepts plan-managed, self-managed, and NDIA-managed participants.

Yes. Dietary management is a core component of type 2 diabetes management and gestational diabetes care. CAHC dietitians work with patients to develop sustainable, evidence-based eating approaches tailored to their glucose targets, lifestyle, and clinical picture. For type 2 diabetes, a Medicare CDM plan (up to five individual or eight group sessions per calendar year) may be available — rebate amounts are subject to change; confirm current rates with your GP or the clinic. CAHC’s Exercise Physiology team also works with diabetes patients and can be cross-referred within the same network. For type 1 diabetes, insulin and medication management should always be coordinated with your endocrinologist or GP.

Low-FODMAP is a structured dietary approach used by APD dietitians when working with people experiencing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It involves a structured elimination and reintroduction protocol — supervised by an APD — designed to identify individual food triggers. It is not a permanent diet and should not be undertaken without professional guidance. CAHC dietitians can guide eligible patients through a supervised low-FODMAP protocol as part of IBS management. The low-FODMAP approach is used to help identify food triggers; it does not ‘cure’ IBS, and outcomes vary between individuals.

Yes. Dietitians play an important role in eating disorder treatment teams, working alongside Psychologists, GPs, and other health professionals to support nutritional recovery. At CAHC, Dietitians and Psychologists work within the same multi-disciplinary allied health network — patients accessing eating disorder support can engage with both a Dietitian and a Psychologist through CAHC without needing to navigate separate referral pathways. For eating disorder support, patients are encouraged to speak with their GP about a coordinated referral.

Yes. CAHC dietitians support pregnancy nutrition, gestational diabetes dietary management, and postnatal nutrition. Dietary management during pregnancy should always be in conjunction with your GP or obstetrician, who is responsible for the medical management of your pregnancy. Your dietitian will work within the care plan set by your medical team.

Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking dietitians are available at selected CAHC clinics. This is particularly relevant for patients managing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, where clear clinical communication is essential to effective dietary management. If your preferred language is not available from a dietitian directly, the TIS National telephone interpreter service is available to support your consultation. Please advise the clinic at the time of booking if you require an interpreter.

Yes. CAHC’s paediatric dietitians assess and support children with food selectivity, fussy eating, nutritional gaps, and growth concerns. For children with complex feeding difficulties — including those with autism-related food selectivity or sensory feeding issues — CAHC’s Speech Pathology team may also be involved, as feeding difficulties often have both nutritional and sensory/motor components. A coordinated referral to both Dietetics and Speech Pathology can be arranged through CAHC’s multi-disciplinary intake. NDIS-funded paediatric dietetics is available for eligible participants — eligibility depends on your individual NDIS plan goals; speak with your support coordinator or contact us to confirm.