Got questions? We've got answers!

If you have a question that is not covered here, please contact us.

What is the difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?

The difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist is that a Dietitian has undertaken a 4 year Bachelors degree or a Masters degree in Dietetics. These courses involve in-depth theoretical and supervised professional practice in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service management. Dietitians can also be known as Accredited Nutritionists. Nutritionists who are not dietitians do not undergo the above training and therefore cannot take on the role of a Dietitian.  

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What is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD)?

An Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) refers to a dietitian who has an ongoing commitment to continuing education and professional development to ensure they are the most up to date and credible source of nutrition information. APD's must undergo continuing education and professional development to remain accredited. APD's are members of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and are recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and most private health funds.

All dietitians at EP Dietetics are APD's.

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Where are you located?

To make it easy for our clients to reach us we have clinics all over South West Sydney and Western Sydney and we work Monday to Saturday. See our Locations page for more info.

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Do I need a referral to see the Dietitian?

No. If you wish to see a Dietitian you do not need a referral (see Fees). But it is always helpful to bring one along from your Doctor/Specialist as it may help us identify areas in your diet/lifestyle we need to focus on. Any recent blood test results you may have can also be helpful. If you have been placed on a chronic disease management (CDM) plan through your Doctor then you must bring this along to your first consulation.

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My doctor has placed me on a Chronic Disease Management plan. Do I need to bring that to my consultation?

Yes. It is very important that you bring your Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan along to your first visit with your dietitian. This provides the dietitian with information about your health conditions as well as other important details. We can only bulk bill your appointment/s if we have this paperwork. Without it you will be charged private fees (see Fees). Please make sure your CDM plan is up to date- talk to your Doctor about this.

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How many consultations will I need with a Dietitian?

This can vary from person to person and depends on why you need to be seen by a Dietitian. Some patients only require one visit just to get their diet back on track and set some goals to work towards. Others may feel they need more regular support and advice- weekly, monthly or a few times over a year. We can discuss this with you in your initial consultation and modify it as we go along or if things change.

Patients on a Chronic Disease Managment (CDM) plan will be given an allocated number of visits by their Doctor, after these are completed you may decide to continue seeing your dietitian privately (see Fees).

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How long does a consultation with the Dietitian go for?

All consultations with the DIetitian run for 30 minutes. If you require a longer appointment please let the DIetitian know when making the appointment. Additional fees will apply to appointments greater than 30 minutes. We try very hard not to run overtime so that the next patient is not left waiting or inconvenienced. 

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How much will a visit to the Dietitian cost?
Please refer to our Fees page. Permalink
What payment methods are accepted?

We accept cash, EFTPOS, Visa or Mastercard. Payment needs to be made at the end of the consultation.

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Am I eligible for a rebate through my Private Health cover?

If you have private health cover with extras, you may be eligible for a rebate. Rebates vary between health funds so best to check with them first! All of our Dietitians at EP Dietetics are Accredited Practicing Dietitians and Accredited Nutritionists.

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Do EP Dietetics bulk bill consultations?

Yes, we will bulk bill visits if you have an up to date Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan from your Doctor. You will be bulk billed for any allocated visits with the Dietitian. Unfortunately, if your Chronic Disease Management plan is not up to date or if you forget to bring your plan along to the initial consultation, we will not be able to bulk bill you and you will be charged our Private fees.

If you run out of visits on your plan but still wish to continue seeing the Dietitian please be aware these visits will then be charged with our private fees. Please refer to Fees for more information. 

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Why is there a cancellation fee?

At EP Dietetics, we understand that unexpected events can happen and you may not be able to make your appointment. We ask that you give 24 hours notice as this allows us enough time to adjust our own schedule and hopefully offer that timeslot to other patients who may be on our waiting list. If adequate notice is not provided you will be charged a $40 fee.

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Do you have after hours appointments available?

We can do after hours appointments on some days, please enquire with one of our friendly dietitians when booking your appointment. We also offer Saturday appointments (7.30am-12pm) Contact Us.

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Do you carry out home visits?

We will do home visits for some patients in certain areas, if it is difficult for them to travel to one of our clinics. Please be aware due to travel, home visits will result in additional fees (DVA Gold Card holders will be bulk billed if they are eligible for home visits). Please contact us to see if you are eligible for a home visit.

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Do EP Dietetics Dietitians only deal with weight loss?

No! Whilst our DIetitians love helping our patients to manage their weight, we are also trained to assist you with your health conditions.

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Are you a Registered NDIS Provider?
Yes we are a Registered NDIS Provider and are now accepting referrals. Please contact us to find out more. Permalink

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