NDIS Dietitian (Newcastle & Hunter region)

Can dietetic services be funded through your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan?

Definitely!

To use a Dietitian with your funded supports, you need to meet certain criteria. We understand that discussing this with your planner might be challenging, so we will provide you with more information to support your planning meetings.

Dietary support under the NDIS should be specifically related to a person's disability and not more appropriately funded by other government bodies. Dietitians can be included in participant plans if they align with the 'reasonable and necessary' criteria.

If you book in with Little Beginnings Nutrition, we can further explain how we can link your needs to these criteria, as well as meet your functional goals.

What are functional goals?

Functional goals are meaningful goals that impact a person's everyday life. Under the NDIS, functional goals focus on areas such as communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, and self-management. Working with a Dietitian can support you in any or all of these areas. For example, a Dietitian can support children's growth and cognitive development, help individuals maintain physical strength for engaging in social activities, or assist with tasks related to meal planning, shopping, and independent cooking.

How can a Dietitian help you with your functional goals?

Depending on your disability, a Dietitian can support you in various areas, including:

• Dietary and mealtime plans for individuals with chewing and swallowing difficulties due to their disability

• Addressing fussy eating or picky eating that has physical, feeding or social impacts

• Managing stressful mealtimes and other mealtime challenges, such as refusing to eat specific foods, avoiding mealtime settings, or experiencing behavioral meltdowns

• Addressing bowel issues related to the disability (e.g., constipation, diarrhea, coeliac disease, limited fluid/fiber intake)

• Managing pressure injuries resulting from physical function difficulties

• Addressing malnutrition that impacts social or participation outcomes

• Supporting individuals with a larger body size that affects physical or social function

• Optimizing physical growth and brain development in children

• Providing assistance with tube feeding and tube weaning

Which budget category is required to see a Dietitian under the NDIS?

To purchase dietetic services, you must have the appropriate budget category in your plan. The following categories can potentially be used for dietetic services:

• Capacity Building Supports: Improved health and wellbeing (any age)

• Capacity Building Supports: Improved daily living category – therapy supports for over 7 years

• Capacity Building Supports for Early Childhood Interventions: Other Therapy

• Core Supports – assistance with daily life supports: Disability-related health supports

Which dietetic provider can you choose?

Little Beginnings provide nutrition support for self-managed and plan -managed clients across Newcastle and the Hunter (within 1 hour of Newcastle CBD). Telehealth available Australia wide.