Dietitians help people to understand the relationship between food and health. They also help people change their diet so that they can become healthier, and stay healthy.

Dietitians must have a university degree in nutrition and dietetics, and those who meet strict criteria are eligible to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program, which is run by the Dietitians Association of Australia. The APD program is the only credential for dietitians recognised by the Australian Government (for Medicare and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ purposes) and many state governments and private health insurers.

What does a dietitian do?

Dietitians provide expert nutrition and diet advice for people of all ages. They can help if you have a food allergy, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer or gastrointestinal diseases, or if you are overweight or underweight. They can help with other health problems too.

In Australia, dietitians are different to nutritionists. Both are qualified to work in areas like public health, research and teaching, or in the food industry. Dietitians are also qualified to work in private medical practices, medical centres, or hospitals.

A dietitian will ask questions about your health, what you want to achieve, and what you eat and drink.
They will give you feedback and advice on your diet and health condition. They will also help you set food-related goals.