Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Do I need a referral?
A: No, but if you have a referral please bring it along on the day. On the other hand - patients under Medicare CDM Program / Care Plans must bring their referral along, as do individuals covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Q: Do I need to bring anything to the consultation?
A: 

• If you have a referral, please bring it along. 
• A food intake diary can be very helpful, but is not compulsory (this can be the last week or 2-3 days).
• Recent Blood Sugar recordings (if Diabetic)
• Any relevant test results, i.e. blood tests.
• Any food packaging you wish to discuss
• Details of  current medications or supplements

Q: How long is a consultation?
A: Initial consultations go for 45-60 minutes, follow-up review consultations go for 20-30 minutes.

Q. What does ‘APD’ stand for and what does it mean?
A:

• ‘APD’ stands for Accredited Practising Dietitian. To act as an APD, a dietitian must be a current member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). All members must commit to undertake a certain number of hours of continuing professional development (CPD) annually to maintain their APD membership status. 
• In summary, APDs are dietitians who have made a commitment to maintain up to date and familiar with the latest research, all while maintaining high practice standards.
• Notably, APDs are bound by the DAA (Dietitians Association of Australia)’s Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics.
• Both Lotta and Julia are APD’s, which is the Australian Gold Standard in nutritional advice.