Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition who work with their patients to help improve their lifestyle, eating habits, and overall health.

Proper dietary management can help people suffering from chronic disease, significant weight change, and eating disorders to develop healthy eating habits which suit their individual health requirements. It can also help those taking certain medications, those struggling with their weight, and those who have generally poor eating to adopt positive dietary changes and improve their overall health.

Our in-house dietitian is Kimberly Mitlehner, who is extremely passionate about providing individually tailored nutrition solutions that fit together with her patients’ goals. Her special interests in weight loss and weight gain, chronic disease management and prevention, sports nutrition, and helping her patients to adopt behaviour change for long term healthy eating help her to provide ideal solutions to a wide variety of dietary conditions and help improve her patents’ health.

Our in-house dietitian can help treat a wide range of conditions including:

Not losing weight and not sure why? Perhaps you are looking at ways to embrace good eating habits. Here are some ways to get started:

• Eat mostly whole foods, with a large part of your diet coming from plant-based foods (aim for 30 different plant foods per week)
• Consume at least 30g of dietary fibre per day. This can be achieved by including diverse range of wholegrains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.
• Stick to healthy fat sources such as avocado, nuts and seeds, oily fish, and olive oil.
• Minimise or avoid packaged processed foods. Typically, these foods contain high amounts of saturated fats, refined sugars and calories with minimal micronutrients.
• Drink plenty of water. Avoid sugar sweetened beverages such as soft drink and fruit juice.

• Instead of mayonnaise, try hummus
• Try wraps or lebanese bread instead of thick crust pizza
• Go fresh! Instead of dried fruit, swap for fresh fruit
• Go for natural almonds over chocolate coated almonds
• Swap sour cream for greek yogurt

Medicare will refund $53.80 for up to 5 sessions per calendar year under the Enhanced Primary Care program (EPC). This is available to people with complex and long-standing health conditions and MUST be referred by your GP under an Enhanced Primary Care Plan. Please discuss with your GP if you think you may be eligible for this. WE DO NOT CHARGE OUR PATIENTS EXPERIENCING THESE COMPLEX HEALTH PROBLEMS A GAP FOR OUR SERVICES.

If you are a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Health Card holder, you may be eligible for Dietitian services that are covered entirely. Referral from a GP is required and lasts 12 months. Please discuss with your GP if you think this may apply to you.

Dietitians are primary health care providers. This means a referral from your doctor is not always necessary if claiming personally or with your private health extra cover. All dietician services provided at Camden South Family Doctors are covered under private health insurance. A small gap fee may apply depending on your health insurance company. Please contact them directly to enquire about your dietitian rebate.

Private Dietitian services at Camden South Family Doctors are $90 for an initial consultation and $60 for follow up consultations.

We have direct processing for most private health insurers using a HICAPS terminal. We are able to swipe your card on the day of your visit and your health fund will pay the dietitian rebate to us directly. Please bring your Health Insurance Card with you to use this facility.

Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are university-qualified professionals that undertake ongoing training and education to ensure that they are your most up-to-date and credible source of nutrition information. They translate scientific health and nutrition information into practical advice, and practise in line with DAA Professional Standards.

APD Dietitians are University trained health scientists with a focus on both the science of nutrition and the art of counselling. We are trained to provide medical nutrition therapy. Scientifically based nutrition advice based on your medical history and conditions.

A dietitian will aim to inform you of either the most practical or individually tailored nutrition solution that is easy to understand and is a sustainable approach to diet, nutrition and wellbeing. Our dietitan has a strong interest in weight loss and weight gain, chronic disease management and prevention, behaviour change for long term healthy eating as well as sports nutrition.

Definitely. Dietitians see plenty of people who are well, not just those with medical conditions. A Dietitian can help you meet your nutrition requirements, assist with meal planning/shopping, understanding food labels and how to makeover/optimise your favourite recipes.

Weight loss does not have to be a fast process. In fact, slower weight loss will likely be more effective and sustainable in the long term. There may be a number of reasons why your weight is not shifting as quickly as you like, but at the end of the day, you have to be in a caloric deficit to lose weight. Often re-assessing portion size and finding hidden calories can be helpful and may help you to see if what you are eating aligns with your goals. This may also help with identifying areas you can improve on. For further assistance with stubborn weight loss see a Dietitian.

Supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet, as a healthy diet is the best way for your body to get all the nutrients it needs from food. Not only does food provide your body with vitamins and minerals, a well-balanced diet provides your body with carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein and fibre! Specific vitamin and mineral supplements may be needed for people who are unable to meet their recommended dietary intakes through food, but food should always come first. If you are concerned you should consult a Dietitian.