Dietetics/Dietary Advice

What is Dietetics/Dietary Advice?

Dietetics or dietary advice is where a dietician, an expert in food and nutrition, helps you manage your diet. Using scientific evidence, they help you reduce the risk of developing chronic disease.

Dieticians often work with people who have:

• cancer
• diabetes
• eating disorders
• food allergies
• gastro-intestinal diseases 
• heart disease
• obesity
• renal disease.

What is the difference between a Dietician and a Nutritionist?

Both Dieticians and Nutritionists work in the area of nutrition.

The difference between the 2 professions is:

• a Dietician is more highly qualified than a nutritionist and
• Dietetics is a more strictly regulated profession. 

In Australia, Dietetics is a self-regulated profession. 

To practise as an Accredited Practising Dietician with Dieticians Australia, you need to:

• have a Bachelor or Master’s degree in Dietetics
• complete 30 hours per year of continuing professional development
• comply with the Dieticians Australia Code of Professional Conduct and Statement of Ethical Practice
• comply with audit requirements.

Nutrition is also a self-regulated profession. In contrast to Dietetics, the Australian Traditional Medicine Society and the Australian Natural Therapists Association set the standards for membership for Nutritionists. 

In summary, a Dietician can call themselves a Nutritionist but a Nutritionist cannot call themselves a Dietician.

Does private health insurance cover Dietetics/Dietary Advice?

If private health insurance covers Dietetics/Dietary Advice, it falls under Extras Cover.

Ask your insurer whether it covers Dietetics/Dietary Advice.

If so, check whether Dietetics/Dietary Advice is subject to:

• a waiting period before you can make a claim
• per claim limits
• annual limits.

Does private health insurance cover consultations with a Nutritionist? 

No. Under Australian law, private health insurance cannot cover consultations with a Nutritionist.

Since 1 April 2019, the Australian Government prohibited private health insurers from covering 16 Natural Therapies including Nutrition, because there was not enough evidence to prove they were clinically effective.

If I have Extras Cover that includes Dietetics, will I be covered if I see any Dietician? 

No. To be covered, you can only see a Dietician who is accredited by Dieticians Australia as an ‘Accredited Practising Dietician’.

In addition, your health insurer can decide whether or not to cover treatments from a particular provider.

Some insurers may require you to see a Dietician who is one of their recognised providers only.

Before seeking treatment, always check with your health insurer that you are covered.

Does Medicare cover Dietetics/Dietary Advice?

Yes. Medicare may cover the cost of Dietetics/Dietary Advice treatments in certain situations, including:

You:

• have a chronic condition and complex care needs, or
• live in an aged care facility, or
• are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent

and:

• your GP recommends Dietetics/Dietary Advice services
• the consultation lasts at least 20 minutes
• you receive no more than 5 services in a calendar year.

Alternatively:

• You have Type 2 diabetes and
  • your GP recommends you participate in Dietetics group therapy and
  • you receive 5 or fewer services in a calendar year.
• You have a recognised Eating Disorder and
  • your GP recommends Dietetics health services and
  • the consultation lasts at least 20 minutes.

Does Medicare cover consultations with Nutritionists?

No. Medicare does not cover consultations with a Nutritionist.

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