Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is the credential awarded by Dietitians Australia to ensure best practice and a commitment to professional development amongst Dietitians. To maintain this credential, a Dietitian must show evidence of professional development each year.
The APD credential is also the only nutrition qualification recognised by Medicare, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, most private health funds and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). You can easily check if your Dietitian holds the Accredited Practising Dietitian credential by searching the APD Register on the Dietitians Australia website.
What makes APDs different?
APD = Quality Care
All Kids Dig Food Dietitians hold the Accredited Practising Dietitian credential from Dietitians Australia. We see this as essential to providing quality care to the children and families who place their trust in us. We are constantly learning, growing, improving our skills and expertise so we can serve you better.
What is the role of an Accredited Practising Dietitian?
APDs help individuals improve nutrition, eating and feeding by considering the unique person, their life stage, circumstances, family situation, access to food, and any impacting conditions illness or disease.
Dietitians provide individualised care
Dietitians have a tertiary qualification in Nutrition and Dietetics and have a high level of knowledge of nutrition in general terms for communities and the population in general. Dietitians are also qualified to provide individual care to people, whilst taking into consideration their individual circumstances, life stage, development, illness, and disease. Kids Dig Food APDs do not provide one-size-fits-all advice. We take time to get to know your child, your family and your individual circumstances and we work with you towards improved nutrition in achievable ways. Our Dietetic practice is always client-centered.
An APD will start with a thorough assessment
To provide individualised care, an APD Dietitian will always conduct a thorough nutrition assessment. We ask all kinds of questions that help us to understand what has led up to you seeking help. This could include details about you or your child’s growth and development, medical history, eating history, family eating routines, what you/your child typically eat or used to eat, and foods you/your child no longer eat or have never eaten. Sometimes your Dietitian may ask you to complete a food diary to help us understand eating patterns better. This can be a little time-consuming but you usually only have to record this information for 4-7 days. It is always best to record your food and drink intake as it truly is (warts and all), rather than what you think your Dietitian wants to see. Your Dietitian wants to understand and support you, not pass judgement.
As Accredited Practising Dietitians who work exclusively with children aged 0-18 years of age and their families, Kids Dig Food Dietitians are committed to ongoing professional development that enhances our expertise in:
- Paediatric dietetics and nutrition.
- Child growth and development.
- Client-centred care.
- Nutrition counselling skills.
- Supporting children with specific nutrition challenges such as: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD), eating disorders, nutrient deficiencies, and a vast array of illnesses, diseases and conditions that impact food, eating and nutrition.
- Providing neurodiversity-affirming care.
- Supporting our young clients with disability and their families through a biopsychosocial model of disability lens.
- Providing trauma-informed care.
- Providing safe and welcoming care for LGBTQIA+ kids and families.
Why should I go to an APD?
All Dietitians are nutritionists, but a nutritionist isn’t necessarily a Dietitian
What is the difference between an APD and a nutritionist anyway? This can be quite confusing to understand, and it’s no wonder!
All Dietitians are nutritionists, but a nutritionist isn’t necessarily a Dietitian. It all boils down to what the person has studied, and at what level. Anyone with any kind of nutrition “training” can call themselves a nutritionist, but specific tertiary-level qualifications must be obtained to call oneself a Dietitian.
Dietitian’s Australia explains the main differences between Dietitians and nutritionists like this:
In Australia, there is a difference between a dietitian and other nutritional health providers including nutritionists. All dietitians are nutritionists, but nutritionists without a dietetics qualification can’t call themselves a dietitians. While there are similarities between a dietitian and a nutritionist there are differences in qualifications and regulation.
We hope this answers all your questions about Accredited Practicing Dietitians, our skills and expertise, the differences between Dietitians and nutritionists, and the benefits of seeing an APD.
There are many APDs in Australia who have particular skills, interests and experience in supporting all kinds of people with different nutrition concerns. If you are unsure if a Dietitian has the needed skills and experience to help you, your child or your family please do ask! Kids Dig Food Dietitians are always happy to provide more information so that you can choose the right Dietitian for you.
