Paediatric dietitians help children eat well, whether they're a fussy eater, have allergies or need nutrition support for a medical condition. This guide explains what to expect, typical costs and how NDIS funding may help, plus the Bendigo providers featured on this page.
General physiotherapy and allied health provider offering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietitian, podiatry, and other services. Accepts NDIS, Medicare, TAC, DVA, WorkSafe. No specific paediatric age range, telehealth, waitlist, or practitioner names mentioned.
Bendigo-based dietetics practice offering personalised nutrition care including paediatric nutrition (fussy eating, introducing solids). Telehealth (phone/Zoom) and in-clinic consultations available. No NDIS registration, practitioner names, or waitlist mentioned.
Melanie Hale is an Accredited Practising Dietitian in Bendigo offering personalised nutrition advice, meal planning, and dietary support for clients of all ages. No mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist.
Bendigo-based dietetics service run by Kerin Barnard, assisting children, teenagers and adults with food intolerance, allergy, bowel conditions, weight, diabetes and lifestyle disease management. No NDIS, telehealth, or waitlist details mentioned.
The Realistic Dietitian, based in Bendigo CBD VIC, offers dietetic services for people of all ages, including chronic disease management, weight management, sports nutrition and NDIS-funded nutrition support. Medicare rebates, DVA bulk-billing and private health rebates are available. No specific paediatric age range, telehealth, or waitlist details are stated.
Food First Dietetics in Bendigo, VIC offers personalised dietetics services for individuals across all ages, including in-clinic, telehealth, and home visits. No specific NDIS registration, waitlist, or named practitioners mentioned.
Modern Nutrition offers dietetics services with online booking available for Bendigo and Melbourne CBD locations. Practitioner Jessica Pease is listed as a dietitian. No specific age range, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details are explicitly stated.
Dietetics practice in Heathcote/Bendigo, VIC, seeing babies, children, adults and people with disabilities. Offers face-to-face, telehealth and home visits. NDIS plan-managed/self-managed funding accepted. Current wait time 4–10 weeks depending on location.
A paediatric dietitian is a university-qualified health professional who supports children to get the nutrition they need to grow, develop and thrive. Their work goes well beyond "eating your vegetables". Depending on your child's needs, a dietitian might help with fussy or selective eating, food allergies and intolerances, faltering growth (poor weight gain), constipation, iron or other nutrient deficiencies, tube feeding, or nutrition for conditions such as coeliac disease, diabetes, cerebral palsy or autism.
Many paediatric dietitians work closely with speech pathologists and occupational therapists on feeding therapy, because eating involves sensory, motor and behavioural skills as well as nutrition. A good dietitian tailors practical strategies to your family's routines, budget and food preferences rather than handing you a one-size-fits-all meal plan.
Every child has phases, but it can be worth booking an appointment if you notice:
If you're worried about a health issue, always check in with your GP or paediatrician first — they can refer on and rule out medical causes.
Paediatric dietitians support children from infancy (including starting solids and infant feeding) right through to the teenage years. Some also see young adults. Feeding and nutrition concerns look very different at different ages, so ask whether a provider has experience with your child's stage.
An initial consult usually runs 45–60 minutes. The dietitian will take a detailed history — your child's growth, medical background, current eating patterns, mealtime routines and any concerns you have. They may look at a food diary, review growth charts, and observe how your child interacts with food. From there you'll usually leave with a small number of realistic first steps rather than a big overwhelming plan. Follow-up sessions track progress and adjust the approach. For younger or anxious children, changes are often gradual and gentle.
As a general guide, dietetic sessions in Australia often range from around $90 to $200+ for an initial consult, with shorter reviews costing less. The NDIS sets price caps for registered supports, and actual fees vary between providers, so always confirm current pricing directly.
Under the NDIS, dietetics usually sits within Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living (Improved Health and Wellbeing) budgets. If your child has an NDIS plan, dietetics can often be claimed from these lines. How you claim depends on whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed — plan-managed and self-managed participants can generally use both registered and non-registered providers, while NDIA-managed plans require an NDIS-registered provider.
Outside the NDIS, some families access a limited number of Medicare-subsidised sessions through a GP Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, or use private health extras. Ask each provider what rebates apply to your situation.
This page features several local options, including V-Care Physio and Allied Health (Flora Hill), Nourishing Nutrition Bendigo (Maiden Gully), Melanie Hale Dietitian, Bendigo Dietitian (CBD), The Realistic Dietitian (CBD), Food First Dietetics, Modern Nutrition (CBD) and Central Dietetics (Heathcote). When comparing them, consider:
Taking a little time to ask these questions helps you find the right fit — which makes a real difference to how comfortable your child feels and how well the support works.
Or read the full paediatric dietetics guide, or browse all Bendigo providers.
You don't usually need a referral to see a dietitian privately or through the NDIS. However, a GP or paediatrician referral is required for Medicare-subsidised sessions under a Chronic Disease Management plan, and it's always wise to rule out medical causes first.
Yes, dietetics is often funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living (Improved Health and Wellbeing). How you claim depends on whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed. Check the provider's NDIS registration if your plan is NDIA-managed.
As a general guide, initial consults often range from around $90 to $200+, with shorter reviews costing less. NDIS price caps apply to registered supports. Prices vary between providers, so confirm current fees and any rebates directly.
Paediatric dietitians support children from infancy — including starting solids and infant feeding — through to the teenage years. Ask each provider whether they have experience with your child's specific age and needs.
Many Bendigo dietitians offer video consults alongside in-person appointments. Telehealth can be convenient for families in surrounding towns or with busy schedules. Ask each provider what they offer and whether it suits your child.