Client Information
What to Expect
When you make your appointment
You will receive an email that tells you:
Appointment date & time
Your dietitian’s name
Our address and how to find us
Fees and our cancellation policy
The email also contains links to forms that should be filled out before your appointment
Consent / privacy form
Medical / health history
Food & nutrition history
We ask you to fill these out so that your dietitian can be well prepared for your appointment.
How many appointments
will I need?
You will usually need up to 3-4 appointments to address a single nutritional issue, such as a new diabetes diagnosis.
People with multiple nutrition concerns or complex situations may need fortnightly, monthly or bimonthly appointments for an extended period of time. For example - children who are tube fed or a person with an eating disorder.
Your dietitian will always work with you to decide your individual appointment needs. These will change with time, as you build knowledge, skills and confidence; as tube feed tolerance improves; or as growth and weight gain settles into a predictable pattern.
On the day
A standard first appointment will last for just under 1 hour. NDIS client appointments are longer as they are typically more complex (60-75 mins).
Adults will not routinely be weighed or measured. You will only be weighed if there is a clear clinical reason to do so and you consent to this.
Your dietitian will initially get to know you or your child and family, and your situation, better. Together with your completed pre-assessment forms they will take the time to fully understand your food and nutrition concerns, needs and challenges. This means considering your individual circumstances including social and medical history, any developmental challenges and/or disability.
You may be asked to keep a more detailed food record and if so, your dietitian would provide you with the tools to do that. In the case of a child, they may ask you to video a typical mealtime before the next appointment.
In complex nutrition or feeding situations, the above assessment process can take 2-3 sessions.
Your dietitian will then work with you to establish goals, nutrition and feeding strategies and plan for any education. They will write down the plan you have agreed on or may send you an email after your appointment. You will have time to ask questions and check your understanding. Everything will move at a pace that is right for you.
If you have been referred by your doctor or a support co-ordinator, your dietitian will write a letter back to them with a summary of the relevant information you have discussed.
Fees
(subject to regular review)
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Payment is required before or at the conclusion of your appointment.
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EFTPOS / credit card / online payments are preferred.
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We do not keep cash onsite - if paying cash please bring the exact payment.
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If you are a plan managed NDIS client we will invoice your plan manager after your appointment
Private Consultations
Initial Consultation
(standard)
$185
60min including non face-to-face time*
Follow-up Consultation
(standard)
$140
45 min including non face-to-face time*
Follow-up Consultation
(extended / complex)
$185
60 min including non face-to-face time*
*Non face to face time allows your clinician to do required preparation and follow-up including review of pre-assessment forms and ensuring compliance with medicolegal documentation requirements.
NDIS Consultations
Rates are based on the current NDIS price guide.
Available for plan managed and self-managed participants.
Initial Consultation
(120 mins)
$387.98
60-75 min + 45-60 min non face-to-face time**
Ongoing Consultations
& non face-to-face time
$193.99
per hour
**Non face to face time allows your clinician preparation for and follow-up of your appointment/s.
It includes:
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review of pre-appointment forms and dietitian handover;
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documentation;
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initial growth chart plotting;
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correspondence with support coordinator;
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arrangement of HEN samples and registration;
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formula calculations & adjustments;
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nutritional analysis;
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feeding plan development;
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personalised resource development;
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case conferencing;
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liaison with client team members;
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mandatory NDIS reports;
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travel for home visits.
Rebates
Medicare
A Medicare rebate is payable to you if you are referred to Nourish & Thrive by your GP under the following programs:
Enhanced Primary Care (EPC)
Chronic Disease Management (CDM)
GP Management (GPMP)
Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP)
The current standard Medicare rebate is $60.35 and clients are eligible for up to 5 appointments per year for EPC / CDM / GPMP and 20 appointments for EDMP referrals.
Your medicare rebate can be processed on the spot at the time of your paid face-to-face appointment. For telehealth appointments your Medicare rebate is claimable directly from Medicare after your paid appointment.
Please note: your appointment fee does not change if you have a Medicare referral, however you will then receive a Medicare rebate which reduces you overall out of pocket cost.
For example - a 60 min initial consultation of $165 would be followed by a rebate of $60.35. You will be ‘out of pocket’ $104.65 ($165-$60.35). A 45 min follow-up consultation of $125 with a rebate of $60.35 is $64.65 'out of pocket'.
Private Health Funds
Nourish & Thrive is registered with all private health funds.
We can provide on the spot rebates with HICAPS for some private health funds, requiring you only to pay the difference between the rebate and your appointment fee.
If HICAPS is not applicable to your health fund you can alternatively claim your rebate from the fund after your appointment is paid for.
Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA)
Nourish & Thrive is a registered provider for DVA.
Clients referred who are a DVA Gold Card holder or White Card holder with a relevant condition and a DVA referral are not required to pay for their appointments.