South Australian Nutrition Practice Wins Innovation Award

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 29 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The prestigious Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) President's Award for Innovation has been presented to Nutrition Professionals Australia, an Adelaide-based business with a passion for good nutrition and innovative practice.

Nutrition Professionals Australia directors Anne Schneyder and Julie Dundon received the award at the DAA national conference at the Gold Coast on May 30. In presenting the award, DAA President Julie Hulcombe said the innovative and contemporary nutrition practice was an inspiration to dietitians working in the private sector.

'They are a dynamic, dedicated and professional team of Accredited Practising Dietitians who take a holistic approach to nutrition. They consult to individuals and families, the health care industry, government, corporate groups and the media,' said Ms Hulcombe.

Anne Schneyder and Julie Dundon describe Nutrition Professionals Australia as a solutions-focussed nutrition practice that prides itself in providing evidence-based dietary advice, in an environment that is professional and non-judgemental.

'By working in partnership, supporting each other and pooling our knowledge and skills, Anne and I were able to create a professional, well-resourced and reliable service for our clients that matched our core values of excellence, quality and integrity,' said Ms Dundon.

A recent initiative has been moving to electronic client records and resources, which has allowed staff to be more mobile, and meant closer links with doctors and other health professionals.

'Our success has been largely due to our team. Many dietitians working in private practice feel isolated both professionally and socially, so when we established the business, we set about creating a work environment that was interactive and enjoyable, and that allowed our staff to grow and develop,' said Ms Dundon.

Nutrition Professionals Australia was established in 2001, and now employs more than eight Accredited Practising Dietitians based in Adelaide's trendy Melbourne Street precinct. Anne Schneyder and Julie Dundon are South Australia's only dietitians to have been awarded Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian status by the DAA, which recognises professional leadership in their field of nutrition and dietetics.

'In the next few years we'll be working on creating new services in the areas of sports nutrition and corporate health, and we'll work on refining our systems and procedures,' Ms Dundon said. The DAA President's Award for Innovation is awarded in honour of the memory of Josephine Rogers AM.

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is the professional body representing dietitians nationally. Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is the only national credential recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and most private health funds as the quality standard for nutrition and dietetics services in Australia. For more information visit http://www.daa.asn.au

Background information

- The Dietitians Association of Australia 26th national conference will be held from May 29 - 31 at Conrad Jupiters at the Gold Coast. The conference is titled 'Improving nutrition - a social responsibility'. For more information, visit: http://www.daa.asn.au

- Karen Struthers MP Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Queensland) will open the conference on Thursday, May 29 at 9am.

Dietitians Association of Australia