Question 1

What is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)?

Accepted Answer

An Accredited Practising Dietitian is the only nutrition professional in Australia recognised by Medicare, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and most private health funds. APDs must hold a university degree in nutrition and dietetics, complete supervised practice hours, and maintain ongoing professional development through Dietitians Australia. All three of our dietitians, Andrew Thompson, Shayan Khademi and Georgia Bates, are Accredited Practising Dietitians. Andrew also holds Monash University Low FODMAP Diet accreditation.

Question 2

Who will I see?

Accepted Answer

We are a team of three Accredited Practising Dietitians. Andrew Thompson, our Senior Dietitian and founder, consults at Redlands on Tuesdays, Logan on Thursdays and Ipswich on Fridays, and works with tube feeding, malnutrition, gut health and complex chronic conditions. Shayan Khademi consults at the Ipswich clinic on Mondays, with telehealth and home visits, and works with general health referrals such as heart health, type 2 diabetes and healthy ageing. Georgia Bates is our eating disorder dietitian and also works with paediatric feeding and neurodivergent clients. She sees clients by telehealth Australia-wide and at the Logan clinic by appointment. When you contact us, we match you to the dietitian who best suits what you need and where you are. Online booking covers Andrew and Shayan on their regular clinic days; appointments with Georgia are booked by phone or through our enquiry form.

Question 3

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

Accepted Answer

All Accredited Practising Dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians. Only APDs are qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy for clinical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, IBS, and tube feeding. APDs are the only nutrition professionals recognised for Medicare rebates, DVA cards, and private health fund claims. Nutritionists can give general healthy-eating advice but cannot provide clinical care.

Question 4

What areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We provide home visits across Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and surrounding suburbs in South East Queensland. We also consult in clinic in Logan (Rochedale, Thursdays), Ipswich (Silkstone, Mondays and Fridays) and the Redlands (Wellington Point, Tuesdays). Telehealth via video call is available Australia-wide for anyone with a stable internet connection. Contact us to check if your suburb is covered for home visits.

Question 5

Do you do home visits?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Home visits are a core part of what we do. They are especially valuable for older adults, NDIS participants, NIISQ participants, DVA card holders, and anyone who finds it difficult to travel. Scheme-funded clients (NDIS, NIISQ, DVA, My Aged Care) pay no gap for home visits; private home visits add a flat $50 travel fee within our standard service area across Logan, Ipswich and Redlands.

Question 6

Do you offer telehealth?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Telehealth video consultations are available for any patient anywhere in Australia. Telehealth is claimable through most private health funds, Medicare (with a chronic disease management plan), DVA, and NDIS. All you need is a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and a quiet space.

Question 7

Do I need a referral to see a dietitian?

Accepted Answer

No referral is needed if you are paying privately or claiming through your private health fund extras cover. A GP referral is only required if you want to access Medicare rebates through a chronic disease management plan (EPC plan), or for some DVA pathways. For NDIS, NIISQ and Support at Home, your plan or support coordinator is the starting point, not a GP.

Question 8

How long is a consultation?

Accepted Answer

Initial appointments are 45 minutes for a standard assessment or 60 minutes for complex cases (tube feeding, multiple conditions, paediatric). Follow-up reviews are 30 to 45 minutes depending on what we are working on. Home visits include the same time as clinic or telehealth, plus any travel.

Question 9

Can I see a dietitian through Medicare?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you have a chronic health condition and your GP prepares a chronic disease management plan (also called an EPC plan or GP management plan) that includes a referral to a dietitian. Medicare provides a rebate of $63.40 per session on up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year. These 5 sessions are shared across all allied health services on your plan.

Question 10

Are you an NDIS provider?

Accepted Answer

We are a non-registered NDIS provider, which means we can see participants who are self-managed or plan-managed. We work with NDIS plans that include dietitian support under Improved Daily Living or Improved Health and Wellbeing.

Question 11

Do you accept DVA cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We see DVA Gold Card and White Card holders. For Gold Card holders, services for any condition are covered with a D904 referral from your GP. White Card holders are covered for accepted conditions. We bill DVA directly so there is no out-of-pocket cost.

Question 12

Can I use my Support at Home package for a dietitian?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Dietitian services can be funded through your Support at Home package via a third-party provider agreement. Your approved Support at Home provider arranges the agreement with us and the cost comes from your support plan budget. This works for ongoing Support at Home classifications, the Restorative Care Pathway, and the End-of-Life Pathway.

Question 13

Can I use NIISQ funding to see a dietitian?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NIISQ participants can include dietitian services in their treatment, care, and support plan. Speak with your NIISQ support planner about adding dietitian services. We submit treatment cycle requests and work directly with your planner to arrange appointments and billing.

Question 14

I am a serving ADF member. Can I see you?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Thompson Community Dietitians is an approved provider with Bupa ADF Health Services. Ask your on-base health centre for a referral to a dietitian and we bill Bupa ADF Health Services directly, so there is no cost to the member.

Question 15

Can I claim through my private health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We accept over 30 health funds via Tyro Healthpoint with on-the-spot claiming, including Bupa, Medibank, nib, ahm, HCF, Defence Health and many more. Your fund pays its portion at the time of your appointment and you only pay the gap. No referral is needed.

Question 16

What if I just want to pay privately?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a referral or any kind of plan to see us as a private patient. Standard initial appointments (45 minutes) are $145 with Shayan Khademi or Georgia Bates and $165 with Andrew Thompson at our Ipswich clinic ($145 with Andrew elsewhere). Complex initial appointments (60 minutes) are $190. Reviews are $95 with Shayan or Georgia and $105 with Andrew at Ipswich ($95 elsewhere).

Question 17

Can I use my private health insurance and Medicare for the same appointment?

Accepted Answer

No. You can only claim one or the other for a given appointment. Generally, Medicare via an EPC plan provides a higher rebate per session but caps you at 5 sessions per calendar year. Private health extras has no annual session cap but lower per-visit rebates. We can help you work out the best mix for your situation.

Question 18

Do you help with IBS and low FODMAP?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Andrew holds Monash University Low FODMAP Diet accreditation, the gold standard for IBS dietary management. We walk you through the elimination, reintroduction, and personalisation phases so you do not end up stuck on a restrictive diet long-term. We also help with general gut health, IBD (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis), and digestive symptoms that have not been pinned to a specific diagnosis.

Question 19

Do you help with eating disorders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Georgia Bates, our eating disorder dietitian, supports adults and adolescents with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (as part of a treatment team), binge eating disorder and disordered eating, and children and families with ARFID and feeding difficulties. Sessions are by telehealth Australia-wide or at our Logan clinic by appointment. We work alongside your GP, mental health clinician and family rather than in isolation. Appointments with Georgia are booked by phone or through our enquiry form.

Question 20

Can a dietitian help with type 2 diabetes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Diabetes management is one of the most common reasons people are referred to a dietitian through Medicare. We work on blood sugar control, carbohydrate awareness, weight management where relevant, medication interactions, and sustainable eating habits. We coordinate with your GP, endocrinologist, and diabetes educator.

Question 21

Do you support people taking GLP-1 medications?

Accepted Answer

Yes. GLP-1 medications change appetite, eating patterns and nutrition needs significantly. We help with managing side effects like nausea, preserving lean muscle mass, getting enough protein, and maintaining nutrition quality during rapid weight loss. We work alongside your prescriber.

Question 22

Do you provide enteral nutrition and tube feeding support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This is a clinical focus area. Andrew has extensive experience with enteral nutrition, including blenderised tube feeds for people who want a food-based alternative to commercial formulas. We work with NDIS, NIISQ, DVA, and private patients on PEG, PEJ, NG, NJ, and gastrostomy feeding.

Question 23

Do you do paediatric and family nutrition?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We see children and families for fussy eating, neuroaffirming care (autism and ARFID), food allergies, paediatric tube feeding, and general family nutrition. Georgia Bates works with ARFID, selective eating and feeding difficulties, and Andrew works with paediatric tube feeding. We use a non-restrictive, weight-inclusive approach with kids.

Question 24

Do you help with weight management?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at your own pace and on your own terms. We do not use restrictive diets or weigh-in pressure. We work with you on sustainable eating patterns, the relationship with food, and any underlying medical conditions that affect weight. If GLP-1 medications are part of your plan, we coordinate with that.

Question 25

Can you help with malnutrition or unintentional weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this is a critical clinical area for older adults and people recovering from illness or surgery. We screen for malnutrition, identify the underlying causes, and build a plan that includes food fortification, supplement strategies, and meal planning that works in your home. Early intervention makes a significant difference.

Question 26

Do you support people with dysphagia or texture-modified diets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We follow the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework and work alongside speech pathologists to make sure meals are safe, enjoyable and nutritionally adequate. This is common for people with stroke, Parkinson's, dementia, head and neck cancer, and aged-care residents.

Question 27

How do I book my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

The easiest path is a free 15-minute discovery call. You can book online via our booking page, call us on 07 5616 6549, or email info@thompsondietetics.com.au. We use the discovery call to understand what you are looking for and confirm the best funding pathway before your first appointment.

Question 28

What is a discovery call?

Accepted Answer

A free 15-minute phone or video conversation. No paperwork, no commitment. We use it to understand what has prompted you to look for a dietitian, check we are a good fit, and explain the relevant funding pathway. If you already know exactly what you want and have your referral or plan sorted, you can skip the discovery call and book your first appointment directly.

Question 29

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Our private rates depend on who you see. A standard 45-minute initial consult is $145 with Shayan Khademi or Georgia Bates, and $165 with Andrew Thompson at our Ipswich clinic ($145 with Andrew elsewhere). A complex 60-minute initial consult is $190. Reviews are $95 with Shayan or Georgia, and $105 with Andrew at Ipswich ($95 elsewhere). From January 2027, Andrew's fees at every location will be $165 for an initial appointment and $105 for a review. With Medicare, DVA, NDIS, NIISQ, Support at Home, or private health insurance, the cost is partly or fully covered depending on the pathway. We confirm your expected out-of-pocket cost before your first appointment.

Question 30

What should I bring to my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Any GP referral or care plan you have, a list of current medications (or photos of the labels), recent pathology results if available, your private health fund card if claiming through extras, and a rough sense of what a typical day of eating looks like for you. Do not worry if you do not have all of these.

Question 31

Will you write to my GP or care team?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with your consent. We send a clinical letter to your GP after the initial assessment and again after any significant change in your plan. For NDIS, NIISQ, and DVA patients we also write to your support coordinator, planner, OT, or speech pathologist as relevant. Coordinated care is something we take seriously.

Question 32

How many appointments will I need?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on what you are working on. For straightforward goals like a low FODMAP elimination, we typically plan 3 to 5 appointments over a few months. For chronic disease management or complex care, it is usually monthly or every 6 weeks for a year or more. We will discuss this with you at the first appointment.

Question 33

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

We ask for 24 hours' notice for cancellations or reschedules. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice or no-shows may incur a fee. Please call or email as early as you can if something comes up. We are flexible when life happens.

Question 34

Are you accepting new patients?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have no waitlist for new appointments. Most new patients can be seen within 1 to 2 weeks.

Everything you would want to know about us

About us and general questions

Funding pathways

Conditions we help with

How it works

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