The Dietitians at Coffs Coast Nutrition focus on treating the whole person, rather than simply the symptoms. We take time to listen to what you have to say, in order to find the cause of your ill-health and provide safe, effective solutions.    

If you want to be healthier and improve your energy levels or sporting performance or find out what foods are contributing to IBS symptoms or inflammation or lose / gain weight, you will benefit from our individualized approach and specialized advice.

Our Dietitians can tailor an eating plan for you, that takes into account any relevant food intolerances or medical conditions. We believe there is no one way of eating that suits everyone. 

We will work with you to set realistic and achievable goals which will enable you to reach your desired weight and/or better-manage a medical condition.  

The key difference between an ‘Accredited Practising Dietitian’ and a ‘Nutritionist’ is that, an ‘Accredited Practising Dietitian’ has undertaken additional studies in medical nutrition therapy, dietetics and food service management. 

Our Dietitians have at least 4-6 years of university study in biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, dietetics and medical nutrition therapy, and are Accredited Nutritionists AND Accredited Practising Dietitians.

Our Accredited Practising Dietitians are regarded as nutrition experts because we have the medical knowledge, understanding and clinical training to assess a person’s diet and lifestyle. This enables us to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy for a range of conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, coeliac disease, inflammatory conditions, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, weight management (both overweight and underweight) and much more. 

Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is the only national credential recognized by the Australian government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and most private health funds as the standard for nutritional services in Australia. This is why only an Accredited Practising Dietitian will be able to offer a rebate under Medicare or DVA, for nutrition consultations. 

Nutritionists who are inadequately qualified cannot register with either Medicare or DVA. Some Nutritionists have no formal training in nutrition or may only have completed a very basic diploma or certificate, so be very cautious if your Nutritionist does not state his or her qualifications.   

All Accredited Practising Dietitians are also nutritionists, however not all nutritionists are sufficiently qualified to call themselves Accredited Practising Dietitians.

Yes, we offer nutrition assessments and advice via telehealth (phone and Zoom) as well as face to face. Telehealth appointments have been very popular due to the fact that they are so convenient for our clients and are always on time. You will receive exactly the same personalised advice, regardless of whether you opt for phone, Zoom or face to face appointments.    

No, a referral is not essential, unless you wish to be seen under DVA or Workers Comp or would like to receive a Medicare rebate.

A referral is not required if you wish to claim under your private health cover. The dietitians at Coffs Coast Nutrition are accredited with all major health funds, however you should check with your health fund to see if they provide rebates for dietitian or nutrition appointments. 

Coffs Coast Nutrition does NOT routinely bulk bill initial consultations, however if you have a valid EPC / Medicare referral from your GP, you may be entitled to a rebate of $58:00 per appointment (maximum of 5 Medicare rebates to allied health professionals per calendar year). 

Unfortunately we are not in a position to bulk bill initial consultations. This is because the Medicare rebate covers an appointment time of 20 minutes, however the initial appointments at Coffs Coast Nutrition can be up to 1 and 1/2 hours in some cases. This allows time for a thorough nutritional and lifestyle assessment, followed by individualised advice. It also ensures that you have the opportunity to ask questions. In addition, we provide an individualised appointment summary and other resources after the appointment which can take up to several hours to prepare in some cases. Extra time is also required to write a report to your referring GP after your first and your last appointment under your Medicare referral. 

If you have a valid Medicare / Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referral from your GP, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $58:00. Please note that not all referrals from GPs are Medicare / EPC referrals. To find out if you are eligible, you will need to speak with your GP as Medicare rebates are only available for certain conditions and circumstances.

You will be required to pay for the initial nutrition consultation, however we can arrange for your rebate to be processed through Medicare after your appointment. Medicare do not allow allied health practitioners to simply charge the gap fee. 

Yes. Prior written approval is required for NDIS and Workers Comp recipients. DVA recipients require a D904 referral from their GP or specialist.

Your first consultation can take up to 1 & 1/2 hours in some cases. This allows time for personalized treatment and support. Our Dietitians will collect information relating to your medical history, symptoms, stress levels, sleep, environmental factors, weight history, diet and activity levels, as well as your goals and expectations. This enables us to provide individually tailored advice. 

We generally prefer to arrange a follow-up appointment 2 – 4 weeks after your initial appointment in order to review your progress, answer any questions you may have and keep you motivated. Some people prefer to attend on a weekly basis, while others would rather an appointment every 6 weeks or so, or you may simply want some basic information which can be obtained in a total of one or two sessions. The choice is yours. 

Yes, our health and wellness coaching services include a comprehensive assessment, plus sessions on stress management, nutrition and mood, sleep quality, mindful eating, healthy snacking and much more.

Yes, we specialize in one-on-one personal training either in our studio gym or outdoors. Outdoor sessions have been popular since COVID.             

Yes, a limited number of after hours appointments are offered. 

Our Dietitians allocate up to 1 & 1/2 hours for an initial appointment and up to 45 minutes for review appointments to enable you to have quality one-on-one time. We do not double book appointment slots. Clients are therefore kindly asked to keep appointments, unless an emergency occurs. We request at least 24 hours notice for all cancellations or rescheduling of appointments.

A fee of $58:00 will be charged for missed appointments or appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours notice. The aim is not to make profits from cancellation fees, rather to make sure that those appointment times are kept available for others who need them, and in order that you respect your dietitian’s time.

It is understandable that in some circumstances, short notice may occasionally be unavoidable, and discretion will be exercised in such cases.

Fees are payable two business days prior to telehealth consults via credit card or bank transfer. If you have an in-person appointment at Coffs Coast Nutrition, you will need to pay at the time of your appointment via credit card / EFTPOS or cash.

Yes. Please enter via the tiled path situated to the right of the building. Look for the “Entrance” sign.