Vital Nutrition & Dietetics

20/06/2025

Statement of Disagreement Regarding Proposed Decrease to Dietetic Service Rates

I am writing this to express our (all dietitians) strong opposition to the proposed decrease in the hourly rate for dietetic services under the current funding arrangements. This decision will have a disproportionately negative impact on an already disadvantaged and marginalised population—namely, individuals living with disability—by restricting their access to critical nutrition care.

Dietitians are highly qualified allied health professionals who play a vital role in improving quality of life and long-term health outcomes for people with disability. Our work extends far beyond basic nutrition advice. We provide essential services such as managing complex feeding issues, supporting enteral nutrition, addressing swallowing and gastrointestinal disorders, mitigating the risks of malnutrition and obesity, and tailoring therapeutic diets for individuals with co-morbidities. These interventions can significantly reduce hospitalisations, prevent complications, and improve functional independence.

To reduce the hourly rate of dietetic services—while leaving the rates for our allied health counterparts untouched—undermines the value and legitimacy of our profession. This not only creates inequity within the allied health workforce but also sends a demoralising message to providers and clients alike that nutrition care is somehow less critical. It is not.

Such a move risks forcing experienced dietitians out of the sector, further widening the service gap in rural, remote, and under-resourced areas where clients already struggle to access skilled professionals. It also undermines the financial viability of practices committed to serving high-need populations.

We urge the government and decision-makers to uphold parity among allied health professions and immediately reverse this inequitable proposal. Dietitians deserve equal recognition and reimbursement for their contributions to the wellbeing of people with disability. Without this, we risk devaluing a profession that is central to the multidisciplinary care model the sector depends upon.

Maintaining fair and consistent funding for all allied health providers is not only a matter of justice—it is a matter of ensuring the health, dignity, and quality of life of those we serve.

14/06/2025

01/06/2025

I am personally affected by this misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition. We need more GP’s, Specialists, Allied Health and other medical professionals to up skill in this area. We need to do better.

June is Lipedema Awareness Month

Lipedema affects millions, but most don’t know they have it. It remains widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed.

All month long, we’ll be sharing a series of free educational resources, livestreams, and expert insights to help you better understand and manage lipedema.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with it for years, there’s something here for you.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫—𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟑-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐭𝐨-𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕–𝟐𝟗, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 $𝟓𝟕!
👉https://bit.ly/lipedema-event

Follow along and be part of the movement to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support each other.

We’re not just a community—we’re a movement. Join us.

06/02/2025

Winner winner chicken dinner. Such a great prize to win. Thank you

24/10/2024

This👇👇👇

"You’re taught to believe you have a willpower problem when you fail to stick to your strict food rules. The truth is you’re turning to food to manage something in your life that can’t be managed with food - but the mind thinks it can because food instantly makes us feel better."
~Marc David

12/10/2024

Can't take credit for the below. but its something that I practice and preach on a daily basis.

The secret to achieving your goals: It's not what you think 🤔

Ever wonder why some people seem to effortlessly stick to their goals while others struggle? Here's a game-changing insight:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

Mind-blowing, right? 🤯

This is a simple hack to help make positive choices easier and temptations harder to reach.

We often think super-disciplined folks have iron willpower. But what if that's not the whole story?

The nerdy stuff:

Research in behavioural psychology shows that willpower is like a muscle - it can get fatigued. This concept is known as "𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧" and suggests that our self-control diminishes as we use it throughout the day.

Makes sense, right? Who cheats on their diet at breakfast? Everyone knows snacks and treats taste better after 10pm! 😀

Your environment is really the silent influencer.

Research also shows that our surroundings play a significant role in our choices and habits. This principle is rooted in something called 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, where how options are presented influences our decisions.

For example, when healthy foods are easily accessible and visible (eye-level in the fridge or pantry), we're more likely to reach for them instead of unhealthy snacks. The converse is also true.

Habits are also often triggered by environmental cues. So by modifying your surroundings to reduce triggers for unwanted behaviours, you automatically make it easier to maintain better habits.

When we create environments that support our goals, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. This means less reliance on sheer willpower and more on smart preparation.

Remember: Your environment is stronger than your willpower.
It's like setting up dominos - once you've arranged everything just right, it takes just a small push to keep things moving. For example:

🔸 Don't stock junk food at home. When you're tired and hungry, you'll reach for whatever is easiest.

🔸 Want to stop scrolling your phone at night or first thing in the morning? Leave your phone in the kitchen overnight (I do this one!)

🔸 Aiming to workout regularly? Lay out your gym clothes the night before.

🔸Want to successfully follow a plan? Have your food prepped.

These strategies aren't about iron willpower at all - they're about smart preparation. By setting up your environment for success, you make it much easier to stick to your plans without constantly battling temptation.

So stop beating yourself up for lack of willpower. Start thinking like an architect of your life. How can you redesign your environment to make your goals the path of least resistance? How can you remove some of the friction?

Remember, success is never about being perfect. It's about creating a world around you that nudges you in the right direction.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬?

-Erik

29/08/2024

Frequently, as a dietitian, I encounter individuals who solely seek meal plans without addressing the foundational aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Let's prioritize the development of wholesome habits such as consistent sleep schedules, enjoyable physical activities, and the consumption of vegetables. Once these behaviors are established, we can consider creating a meal plan tailored to your needs.

07/08/2024

Book recommendation.
A must read for those aged 40 -75yrs, wanting to know how to live your best life.