Dietitian in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie

It can be, in specific circumstances. If your GP prepares a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, you may be able to claim a Medicare rebate for allied health sessions, up to five per calendar year shared across all allied health providers. For dietetics the relevant item is 10954, which currently attracts a rebate of $63.40 and requires a consultation of at least 20 minutes.

The plan was renamed on 1 July 2025: GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements were replaced by the single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. Plans prepared before that date remain valid until 30 June 2027, so an older plan may still be usable.

Separate arrangements exist for eating disorders, which allow considerably more sessions than five. Your GP decides whether you are eligible. You can check the common pathways with our Medicare Eligibility Checker.

It depends what you need, but for a diagnosed medical condition it is usually a dietitian.

In Australia, “nutritionist” is not a protected title. Anyone can use it, with or without formal training. Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is a credentialed pathway requiring an accredited university degree and supervised clinical training, and it is the only nutrition credential recognised by Medicare, the NDIS, DVA and private health funds for clinical nutrition care.

For general healthy-eating guidance, either may suit you. If you are managing a diagnosed condition, want a Medicare rebate, or need medical nutrition therapy, look for the APD credential. Both dietitians at Ausclin are APDs.

It does not apply in Australia. The “8-minute rule” is a United States billing rule, introduced by the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which governs how time-based therapy services are converted into billable units under US Medicare Part B. It applies to outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy in the US system and has no Australian equivalent.

The Australian figure people are usually looking for is the minimum consultation length attached to Medicare item 10954 for dietetics, which is at least 20 minutes. A shorter session cannot be claimed under that item.

Fees vary with location, session length and the dietitian’s experience. Across Australia an initial consultation commonly falls somewhere between about $80 and $200, with longer initial appointments sitting higher again. Follow-up appointments are usually shorter and cost less.

If you are eligible under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, Medicare currently rebates $63.40 per session for up to five sessions per calendar year, which comes off the fee. Most private health funds with extras cover also pay a rebate for dietetics, and eligible NDIS participants can use their plan funding.

For Ausclin’s current fees, get in touch — we will give you the figure and the likely rebate before you book, not after.

No. You can book directly with an Accredited Practising Dietitian without a referral. A referral is only needed if you want to claim a Medicare rebate, in which case your GP prepares the plan first. If you already have one, send the paperwork through before your first appointment.

Yes. We see clients in person in Mount Hutton and by telehealth across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter and further afield. Medicare and private health rebates are available for eligible telehealth consultations on the same basis as in-person appointments.