Accredited Practising Dietitians (also known as APD's) work in many different spaces, including but not limited to community nutrition, clinical dietetics, and foodservice. APD is the only credential for dietitians recognised by the Australian government (for Medicare & Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) purposes), many state governments and many private health insurers. Seeking out an APD is a way for consumers and other stakeholders to recognise professionals with qualifications and skills to provide expert nutrition and dietary advice in a safe and evidence based way. Most importantly dietitians are people who love food, and they're experts on it's nutritional impact on the human body. Most dietitians would agree that ALL foods can and should be enjoyed (in the right balance of course) socially. Dietitian's are primary health care providers which means you can claim any expenses incurred from your specialist visit on Medicare. That means they can help you manage any health conditions you may have, that could be preventing you from looking and/or feeling your best. Read more on Katie's Blog https://diversitydietitian.com/accredited-practising-dietitian-ultimate-guide/

Katie is a highly experienced senior dietitian, and passionate nutrition advocate. She has excellent working knowledge on how to get the most out of mainstream and funded supports. During lockdowns associated with the COVID19 pandemic, Katie's workload increasingly consisted of mental ill-health, eating disorders and disordered eating. This lead to Katie certifying as a Credentialed Eating Disorders Clinician (CEDC). Katie identifies as a neurodivergent individual with a natural affinity for problem solving. Katie is also someone with a lived experience of managing a GI disorder. "It is incredibly rewarding assisting others going through similar journeys". Having had the patient experience due to multiple GI related procedures she feels she brings a unique perspective to her everyday practice as a dietitian. Like most people, Katie loves when food is aesthetically pleasing, but her day-to-day style is all about flavour and saving time. "I love catching up for a meal or coffee with friends, but day-to-day I'd say I mostly cook in the oven. A one-pot-wonder that I can walk away from is my jam, not just because I can shower or do something else, but also doing dishes is one of my least favourite tasks in the kitchen. It's funny because I also find that I feel most relaxed with a tidy kitchen". Katie can assist you with your diet goals, save you time and stress by helping you budget and plan meals, and work through any difficulties you have found with making change or achieving your goals.

Katie has worked across a fairly wide range of areas as a community (mobile) service provider. Katie stated, "I really enjoy most area's of nutrition, and there are so many great opportunities in this field. I love variety in my life and that extends to my work. My main goal is helping people heal their relationships with food and I have chosen to work with people struggling due to age, disabilities, gastrointestinal (GI) and other functional disorders due to my unique combination of professional and lived experiences." Special interests; - Management of GI disorders such as Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction - Capacity building; cooking and other nutrition specific skills - Disordered eating and nutrition for mental health

As an APD Katie is registered with Dietitians Australia (DA). She holds a Bachelor Nutrition & Dietetics (hons) from The University of Newcastle. Katie is also a credentialed eating disorders dietitian (CEDC). This credential applies to dietitian's who have met the ANZAED training standards including having practice for at least 5years.

Katie developed an interest in nutrition in her early 20s and decided to pursue a degree in dietetics after having health complications. By the time Katie graduated she had persoanlly undergone serveral GI surgeries realted to SOD, and to remove pre-cursors for cancer. She has since been fortunate to have several early detections. Reflecting on personal health from very early on, Katie realised the important role nutrition played in her overall mental and physical health. Katie stated, "There is a famous quote, 'Let thy food be medicine, and thy medicine be food', which has always stuck with me. I have sensory issues around food, food allergies, food intolerances and related GI-issues. I know first hand it can sometimes feel like there's no hope, and how important it is to have support around nutrition".

The NDIS is Australia’s first national Scheme for people with disability, providing funding directly to individuals living with a permanent and significant disability.

Dietitians are funded in a number of ways, most commonly under; - Core; daily living related capacity building support - Capacity Building; Health & Wellbeing - Capacity Building; Daily Living (along with other Allied Health profressionals such as OT/Physio) Dietitians may also report on core or capital requirements, for example; - Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) and related assistive technology (AT) - Nutrition and disability specific health and safety requirements and/or AT

It is important to note that the goal of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is to put choice and control in the hands of people with disability, their families and carers. To assist you in communicating with your team, or making a decision on seeing a dietitian for yourself you may refer to the guide below to provide key reasoning for referral: Unexplained, significant change to eating habits, continence or bowels (e.g. ongoing diarrhea/constipation) New diagnosis (e.g. Stroke) which requires dietary change or disordered eating present Repeated attempts to lose weight, unable to sustain change, or inappropriate weight loss attempts Inappropriate or challenging eating behaviours (e.g. Dementia, ARFID, Disordered Eating) Poorly controlled diabetes; either hypo or hyperglycemia Client wishes to learn new skills or make a change. For example, unintentional weight loss or gain weight. PLEASE NOTE: If you or the client is showing signs of Malnutrition please alert your dietitian as soon as possible. If you are unsure you can self-check online using an online Malnutrition Screening Tool. Follow this link for multipel language options https://www.petermac.org/MST

At this time Katie is not collaborating with any registered businesses and is therefor unable to assist with referrals for agency managed NDIS participants, however NDIS registration is under consideration (based on the quantity or referrals). Please feel free to send an expression of interest.