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THE TRUSTED DIETITIANS
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
General
Dietitians are university trained and accumulate years of learning and experience before they qualify. By contrast, while you can study nutrition, anyone is allowed to call themselves a nutritionist. Only dietitians can provide Medicare- and DVA-supported services. All our clinicians are Accredited Practising Dietitians.
No — you're welcome to book directly with us, and most clients do. A referral is only needed if you want to claim a Medicare or DVA rebate. For Medicare, your GP first needs to prepare a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (formerly EPC/TCA) and provide a referral. If you're unsure whether you're eligible, book in and we can guide you.
Yes, all of our dietitians work with children from the age of 12 and up. Please reach out to discuss care for younger children. Appointments are family-centred, and a parent or carer is welcome to attend. A discounted rate applies for children.
Yes. Our team can consult in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Telugu and Hindi, in addition to English. Please mention your language preference when booking.
Fees & funding
Our current fee schedule is listed on our Fees & Policies page. Telehealth appointments are payable at the time of booking, in-centre appointments are paid at the time of your appointment, and in-home visits are invoiced (a provider agreement must be in place prior to the first in-home appointment). Depending on your situation, you may be able to reduce this cost through Medicare, DVA, NDIS or private health insurance. Pensioner and children's discounts are also available.
If your GP has prepared a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and referred you to us, Medicare provides a rebate of $63.40 per visit for up to five allied health visits per calendar year (this five-visit allowance is shared across all allied health providers you see, not five with us alone). Eating Disorder Care Plan holders are entitled to 20 subsidised appointments per year. You pay the full fee on the day and Medicare refunds the rebate to your nominated bank account.
Yes — with a valid referral (D904) from your GP, eligible DVA Gold and White card holders can be seen at no out-of-pocket cost. We see DVA patients in centre, in-home, or via telehealth.
If you hold "extras" cover that includes dietetics, you can usually claim a portion of the fee. The rebate amount depends on your fund and level of cover. Note that you can't claim from both Medicare and private health for the same appointment.
Yes. We partner with more than 20 NDIS care managers and are happy to work with others — please get in contact to discuss. We support self-managed and plan-managed participants where dietetics is included in your plan (for example under Improved Daily Living or Improved Health and Wellbeing), and provide clear invoices and reports to support your plan goals.
Appointments & how we work
Telehealth is a consultation held by secure video call instead of in person — the same personalised care, from home, work, or anywhere private. Appointments run through Cliniko; once you book, we email you a link and you click to join at your appointment time. Telehealth is ideal if you live rurally, have mobility or transport barriers, or simply prefer the convenience.
A smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone, plus a reliable internet connection — there is no software to download. If the video connection drops or you have trouble joining, don't worry: we'll call you on the phone number you provided to continue or reschedule. It helps to test your camera and sound a few minutes beforehand.
Yes. We provide in-home dietetic consultations for clients who find it difficult to attend a clinic — including older adults, NDIS participants, aged care residents, and people with mobility or transport barriers. We visit across the Canberra region and Queanbeyan. Contact us to check availability in your area.
Please bring any referral and care plan from your GP, a list of your current medications and supplements, recent pathology or blood test results if you have them, your Medicare and/or DVA card, and details of any diagnosed conditions, allergies or intolerances. It's also helpful to jot down a rough idea of what you eat and drink on a typical day, along with any questions or goals. For telehealth, have these on hand to show or read out.
We ask for at least 1 business day's notice if you need to cancel or reschedule, so we can offer the time to someone else. Cancellations made within 1 business day of your appointment, and missed appointments, incur a fee of 100% of the consultation fee. We understand life happens — if something urgent comes up, please get in touch and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Telehealth appointments are booked online through our telehealth booking page. Face-to-face appointments are booked through each clinic's own booking system — head to our Locations page, choose your closest clinic, and book with the dietitian who consults there. For in-home visits, get in touch directly.
For referrers (GPs, aged care & support coordinators)
We welcome referrals for residential aged care, home care package recipients, NDIS participants, and community clients. You can submit a referral via our online form or email enquiries@livebetternutrition.com.au directly. For Medicare-rebated visits, please attach a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and referral. We provide dietitian assessments, care planning, malnutrition screening (PG-SGA), and texture-modified diet review, and we'll send a report back to you after the initial consultation. We aim to respond within 1 business day.
Still have questions?
We're happy to help. Get in touch and we'll respond within 1 business day.
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