FAQs
Do I need a Doctor's referral to see a Dietitian?
No you don't. You can choose to see a Dietitian at any time without a referral, however it is helpful if you can bring one along as it will help us identify the areas of your lifestyle and diet we need to concentrate on most. If your Doctor has placed you on a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan then it is very important that you bring this with you to your first consultation.
Can I get a rebate through my private health cover?
You may be eligible for a rebate if you have private health insurance with extras, but as rebates vary between different health funds it's a good idea to check with them first. All of our Dietitians are Acredited Practising Dietitians and registered with Medicare.
How many appointments will I need?
This will depend on your individual circumstances and the reasons you are seeing a Dietitian. Some clients will only require one visit whereas others may feel they need more regular support and advice. We can see clients weekly, fortnightly, monthly or a few times a year. This is something we can talk about together at your initial consultation and go from there. Clients who see us under a CDM plan will be allocated a certain number of visits by their Doctor.
Do we offer bulk billing?
If you have a DVA Gold Card you will be bulk billed for every consultation with us. Please ensure you bring your Gold Card and an up-to-date referral from your doctor to your appointments.
Likewise, if your doctor has placed you on a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan you will be bulk billed for your allocated visits. To ensure this can occur it is important you bring your current Medicare card and your up-to-date CDM plan to your appointment. Without your Medicare card and your CDM plan our Dietitians will unfortunately not be able to bulk bill you and you will be charged the regular fees.
So what is the difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist
In Australia a Dietitian is someone that is university qualified, who has studied substantial science and nutrition theory and undertaken supervised and assessed professional practice in human nutrition. There are currently no government enforced regulations regarding the term Nutritionist - meaning anyone can call themselves one, regardless of their qualifications - so it pays to dig a little deeper before making an appointment with someone. Our Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are commited to continual education and development, meaning you'll get up to date and credible information. Our Nutritionists are university qualified and have also done extensive study, so you can rest assured that regardless of whether you see a Dietitian or a Nutritionist at greenstuff you'll get expert information that actually works.