Finding the right dietitian for your child can make mealtimes calmer and support healthy growth and development. This guide explains what paediatric dietetics involves, how it's funded through the NDIS, and how to choose a provider in Townsville — and features several local services to help you get started.
Allied health provider offering psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, behaviour support, physiotherapy, dietetics, and allied health assistant support for adults and children, using a neuro-affirming, wholistic approach with assessments and interventions.
General dietitian/nutritionist practice covering gut health, women's health, fertility, and nutrition for a child's first 1000 days (conception to age 2), including fussy eating support. No NDIS or telehealth mention.
Coastal Kids offers speech pathology, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and allied health assistant support/programs for children, delivered by a dedicated team in a child-friendly environment, located in Townsville, North Queensland.
Synergy Health Centre offers physiotherapy and nutrition/dietitian services among broader allied health offerings. Website references NDIS but does not explicitly state paediatric focus, ages seen, registration status, telehealth availability, or waitlist information.
General bulk-billing family medical centre in Cranbrook, QLD, with allied health services including psychologist, dietitian, and physiotherapist on site. Offers telehealth and in-person appointments, open 7 days. No paediatric-specific, NDIS, or waitlist details mentioned.
Townsville-based certified speech pathologists serving children and adults, offering paediatric and adult speech therapy, feeding therapy (SOS), and mealtime management. NDIS registered provider, offers telehealth sessions.
Provides allied health services for adults and children including psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, behaviour support planning, physiotherapy, dietitian services, and allied health assistant support, using a neuro-affirming, holistic approach with assessments and interventions.
Registered NDIS Provider offering occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology, and dietetics, plus diabetes education and social work. Services delivered in-clinic and via telehealth across Townsville, Pimlico, and Mackay locations by a multidisciplinary allied health team.
Paediatric dietitians are university-qualified health professionals who specialise in the nutritional needs of babies, children and teenagers. Unlike general nutrition advice, an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) provides individualised assessment and support based on your child's growth, medical history and eating patterns.
For children, this can cover a wide range of areas, including:
Dietitians often work alongside speech pathologists and occupational therapists (particularly for feeding therapy), your GP and paediatrician.
Many families reach out when everyday eating becomes stressful or worrying. You might consider a paediatric dietitian if your child:
If you have concerns about your child's growth or health, always speak with your GP or paediatrician first — this guide is general information, not medical advice.
Paediatric dietitians support children from infancy (including introducing solids and formula concerns) right through to adolescence. Support is always tailored to your child's developmental stage — advice for a toddler learning to eat looks very different to guidance for a teenager managing a chronic condition.
A first session usually runs 45–60 minutes. The dietitian will typically:
Rather than handing over a rigid meal plan, good paediatric dietitians build a practical strategy your family can actually follow. Follow-up appointments track progress and adjust the approach.
As a general guide, private paediatric dietetics in Australia often ranges from around $150 to $250 for an initial consultation and $80 to $180 for follow-ups. The NDIS publishes price caps that registered providers must follow, and actual fees vary between clinics — always confirm pricing directly before booking.
Dietetics is usually funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living in an NDIS plan. If your child is NDIS-participant, check whether your plan is:
Some families also access dietetics through a GP-arranged Chronic Disease Management (formerly EPC) plan, which may offer a small number of Medicare rebates. Private health extras can sometimes help too.
Townsville has a mix of allied health clinics, medical centres and specialist paediatric services. When choosing, consider:
This page features several Townsville services, including Psylution Worx, The Happy Gut Place, Coastal Kids Allied Health, Synergy Health Centre, Healthlink Family Medical Centre, Beyond Barriers Therapy Services, Psylutions Group, Alliance Clinics and JCU Health. Availability of paediatric dietetics can vary between clinics, so contact them directly to confirm services, credentials and current waitlists.
Taking a little time to check credentials and ask these questions helps you find a provider who's the right fit for your child and family.
Or read the full paediatric dietetics guide, or browse all Townsville providers.
An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is university-qualified and can provide individual medical nutrition therapy for children, which is important for medical conditions and NDIS funding. The term 'nutritionist' isn't protected in the same way, so always check for the APD credential recognised by Dietitians Australia.
Yes, dietetics is generally funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Whether you need a registered provider depends on how your plan is managed (self-managed and plan-managed offer more flexibility than NDIA-managed). Confirm registration and pricing with the clinic before booking.
As a general guide, initial consultations often range from around $150–$250 and follow-ups from $80–$180 in Australia, though fees vary. NDIS price caps apply to registered providers. Always confirm current pricing directly with the provider.
Waitlists vary considerably between clinics and can be several weeks or longer for paediatric services. It's worth contacting a few providers, asking about their current waitlist, and joining a cancellation list if one is available.
It's a good idea. Your GP or paediatrician can check for underlying medical issues, provide referrals, and may arrange a Chronic Disease Management plan that offers limited Medicare rebates. This guide is general information only and not a substitute for medical advice.