Dietetics

Dietetics is a form of Allied Health support delivered by qualified, registered dietitians. Under the Support at Home program, Dietetics sits within the Clinical Supports category, alongside services like Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Exercise Physiology, and Social Work. 

A dietitian working with you at home might focus on: 

• Nutritional assessments, understanding your current eating habits, appetite, and any gaps in your diet 

• Managing specific health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease, through tailored dietary advice 

• Weight management, whether that’s supporting healthy weight gain or gradual, sustainable weight loss 

• Texture-modified diets, for people with swallowing difficulties, often working alongside Speech Pathology 

• Prescribed nutritional supplements, when additional support is needed to meet nutritional needs 

• Practical, everyday guidance, on meal planning, food choices, and eating well within your routine and preferences 

Good nutrition isn’t about strict rules or giving up the foods you enjoy. It’s about finding an approach that genuinely fits your life, your health needs, and your tastes.

Because Dietetics falls under Clinical Supports, it is fully government-funded, with no co-contribution required, regardless of your income or assets. This means if you’re eligible for Support at Home and Dietetics is included in your Care Plan, there’s no out-of-pocket cost standing between you and expert nutritional guidance. 

If you’re not yet receiving government funding, Chris Barnard Health also offers privately funded Dietetics, so a funding gap never has to mean going without proper nutritional support. 

Nutrition plays a far bigger role in health and independence than most people expect, especially in older age. Poor nutrition can quietly contribute to muscle loss, weakened immunity, slower healing, and reduced energy, making everyday tasks feel harder than they need to be. 

The reverse is just as true. Good nutrition supports strong bones, a healthy immune system, faster recovery from illness or surgery, and steady energy throughout the day. For many people, working with a dietitian is the difference between simply eating and genuinely nourishing their body. 

Advice That Fits Your Real Life 
A dietary plan only works if it’s realistic. Our dietitians take the time to understand your routine, your cultural background, your budget, and the foods you genuinely enjoy, so recommendations feel achievable, not like a list of rules to fight against every day. 

Connected to Your Broader Care Team 
Your dietitian’s assessments and recommendations are shared with your Care Partner and, where relevant, your nursing and allied health team. This means if a nutritional concern emerges, like unexpected weight loss or a new swallowing difficulty, it gets picked up and acted on quickly, not lost between services. 

Dietetics, like every service we provide, is guided by your rights under the Aged Care Act 2024. This includes the right to: 

• Make decisions about your care and dietary choices 

• Be treated with dignity and respect throughout every appointment 

• Be involved in planning your services, including who delivers them and how 

• Speak up if a recommendation or approach isn’t working for you, with the assurance that your feedback will be taken seriously 

If something ever goes wrong, we respond using a structured, best-practice approach called open disclosure, informing you promptly, listening to your observations, and working with you to put things right. Transparency isn’t an afterthought for us, it’s built into how we operate. 

Dietetics is available to eligible Support at Home participants, generally people aged 65 or over (50 or over for First Nations people) who need coordinated support to remain safely and independently at home, or younger people with a disability, dementia, or other care needs not met through other specialist services. Dietetics is also commonly accessed following a hospital stay, a new diagnosis, or as part of a broader Restorative Care Pathway. 

• Guidance built around your real life, not a generic meal plan. Our dietitians take the time to understand your routine, culture, and preferences, so nutritional advice actually fits into your day rather than working against it. 

• A team that talks to each other. Your dietitian’s observations are shared with your wider care team, so nutritional concerns are addressed as part of your whole care picture, not treated in isolation. 

Call us on 1300 602 469 to find out more about Dietetics and how it fits within Support at Home or fill out our contact form on the website and a member of our team will be in touch.