Dietitian Profiles

All of our dietitians have considerable clinical experience in their areas of interest. We meet frequently to ensure that we are providing our clients with the same information, based on the latest research advances.

Directors

Jaci Barrett
PhD, BSc(Biomed)(Hons), MND
A.P.D., AN, RNutr

Jaci specialises in gastrointestinal disorders and food sensitivities.
Jaci consults from our Surrey Hills, Toorak and Clayton locations and via Skype.

Jaci is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 2001 with a Master of Nutrition & Dietetics. Jaci spent the following five years working as a clinical dietitian in various metropolitan Melbourne hospitals and 12 months in the UK. This included experience in oncology, renal, gastroenterology, nutrition support and cardiac units. On her return, Jaci commenced her PhD at Monash University, Box Hill Hospital, with scholarship support from the Menzies Foundation. Her thesis, entitled “The Role of FODMAPs in Gastrointestinal Disorders”, examined dietary triggers for gastrointestinal conditions. During her PhD tenure, Jaci was awarded the GESA Douglas Piper Young Investigator Award 2007, Nutrition Society of Australia & New Zealand best oral presentation award 2007, AuSPEN David Russell Clinical Research Award 2007, and Eastern Health research week best oral presentation award 2008. Jaci holds a position as Lecturer and research dietitian at Monash University, continuing her research into diet and gastrointestinal conditions, which provides vital information for use in private practice. She frequently presents her research throughout Australia and overseas, including invitations to speak for corporations such as CCA (Crohn’s and Colitis Australia) and Yakult Australia. Jaci is also the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Committee Representative for the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Michelle Holt
BSc(HMovement), MND
A.P.D., AN

Michelle specialises in sports nutrition, healthy eating and weight management.
Michelle is currently on maternity leave but will start consulting later in 2012.

Michelle is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 2001 with a Master of Nutrition & Dietetics. Michelle has spent many years in clinical dietetics in Melbourne and in the UK. This included experience in food service, eating disorders and general medical wards. Michelle is now a busy mother with two young children, juggling day-to-day running of Diet Solutions alongside Jaci, as well as doing some part time work for Deakin University preparing learning modules and examinations.

Clara Newsome
BSc(Biomed)(Hons), MND
A.P.D., AN

Clara specialises in gastrointestinal disorders.
Clara consults from our Surrey Hills location and via Skype.

Clara is an accredited practising dietitian with a Masters of Nutrition & Dietetics. Clara has been employed as a clinical dietitian at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne for 11 years where she has gained a vast degree of clinical experience in a variety of areas. She has worked in the specialist area of gastroenterology for 8 years. She is a senior dietitian within the department of nutrition, coordinating quality and research and supervising honours research dietetic students and undergraduate dietetic students from Monash University. Her clinical experience and research interest means she keeps up to date on the latest dietary strategies. Clara has been acknowledged for her work in research with St Vincent's research prizes. She has also been an invited speaker for CCA (Crohns and Colitis Australia) and is the convenor of the Dietitian's Association of Australia Gastroenterology Interest Group (VIC branch).

Andrea Bramley
BSc, MND, Grad Cert HSM.
A.P.D., AN

Andrea specialises in gastrointestinal disorders, Type I & II DM and weight management.
Andrea consults from our Surrey Hills location and via Skype.

Andrea is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 1998 with a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Andrea commenced her career as a graduate dietitian at the Alfred hospital and since then she has worked at several Melbourne Teaching Hospitals as well as working in the UK and consulting to industry. Andrea has worked across almost all clinical areas but has a special interest in gastroenterology and post surgical nutrition and has been the convenor of the Nutrition Support Special Interest Group of the Dietitians’ Association of Australia for the past three years.  Andrea also has extensive teaching and research experience, holding the position of clinical teacher and research co-ordinator at Peninsula Health during her tenure there.  Andrea has a significant interest in quality provision in health, obtaining post graduate qualifications in Health Care Service Management and has put this interest into practice by developing and implementing clinical practice guidelines and protocols and ensuring evidence-based practice.

Caroline Tuck
BND (Hons)
A.P.D., AN

Caroline specialises in gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular risk management and weight management. Caroline consults from our Surrey Hills, Camberwell, Werribee, Toorak, Clayton and via Skype.

Caroline is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 2008 with Honours in Nutrition & Dietetics. Since graduating, Caroline has held the role of sole dietitian in Stawell, Victoria.  Working in a sole position has provided Caroline with a vast range of experiences including managing patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, post gastrointestinal-surgery as well as running group programs for weight and cardiovascular health management. Caroline's interest and knowledge in gastrointestinal disease management was sparked by her research year at Box Hill Hospital in 2008. Caroline investigated the role of glucose to assist absorption of fructose in fructose malabsorbers. As such, Caroline has excellent knowledge and first hand research experience in the management of fructose malabsorption and irritable bowel syndrome. She presented this work at the 2009 Dietitians Association of Australia conference in Darwin.

Louise Buckley
BND
A.P.D., AN

Louise specialises in gastrointestinal disorders.
Louise is currently on leave, volunteering as a dietitian for 12 months in the Pacific Islands.

Louise is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics. She started her career at Peninsula Health and gained extensive clinical experience in most areas, with a particular focus on gastrointestinal surgery and intensive care. Louise has worked as a specialist digestive diseases dietitian in the UK and gained extensive inpatients and outpatient experience with a range of gastrointestinal issues. She has a special interest in short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure, inflammatory bowel disease and nutrition post colorectal surgery. Louise has a passion for research and is currently an associate researcher in a randomised controlled trial investigating the need for clear fluids in colorectal surgery patients. She is currently a senior dietitian within Peninsula Health and is heavily involved in service provision and development. 

Sara Quong
BAppSci(Human Movement), MND
A.P.D., AN 

Sara specialises in gastrointestinal disorders, Type II DM, cardiovascular risk management and weight management.
Sara consults from our Surrey Hills, Coburg, Dandenong, Kew and Bundoora locations and via Skype.

Sara is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 2001 with a Master of Nutrition & Dietetics. Sara commenced her career as a graduate dietitian at the Austin Hospital. She has since worked in the UK and Australia as a clinical dietitian and a community dietitian. She has a vast range of experience in many clinical areas such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pulmonary disease, gastroenterology and weight management. Sara has a keen interest in the area of gastrointestinal disorders. She is currently working as a community dietitian at Southern Health where in addition to consulting to a wide range of clients, she has developed and evaluated group education programs and nutrition based health promotion projects. she is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Health Promotion. 

Mariagrazia de Luca
A.P.D., AN

Mariagrazia specialises in gastrointestinal disorders
Mariagrazia is currently on maternity leave.

Amanda Banfield
A.P.D., AN

Amanda specialises in gastrointestinal disorders, Type II DM, cardiovascular risk reduction and weight management.
Amanda consults from our West Perth location and via Skype.

Amanda is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who graduated in 2001 with a Master of Nutrition & Dietetics. She commenced her career at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne, during which time she presented at the 2003 DAA National Conference in Cairns on a major revision of the hospital-wide menu. Following this, Amanda held the position of sole dietitian at Orbost Regional Health for 8 years. Here she gained significant experience in a wide range of clinical areas including gastroenterology, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight management (including gastric banding), oncology and nutrition during pregnancy. She worked closely with local GPs in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Amanda also implemented a number of effective self-management and health promotion group programs, primarily in the areas of weight management, Diabetes and Community Kitchens. She has a strong interest in the dietary management of gastrointestinal disorders and in the reduction of risk factors for chronic disease.

Elena Oswald
BND(Hons)
A.P.D., AN

Elena specialises in gastrointestinal disorders, weight management, sports nutrition, cardiovascular risk reduction and Type II DM.
Elena consults from our Cammeray and Summer Hill locations in NSW.

Elena is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who graduated in 2009 from Newcastle University with First Class Honours in Nutrition and Dietetics. Since graduating, Elena has been working in one of the busiest private practices on the Mid North Coast of NSW. Elena has recently moved to Sydney to further her career in private practice. Working in private practice and often as the sole dietitian has allowed Elenda to gain a wide experience, particularly in the areas of chronic disease management, weight loss, malnutrition, IBS and other gastrointestinal conditions, allergies and intolerances, and sports nutrition. Elena has worked closely with local GPs in both private outpatients and nursing home settings. Elena has also run a number of Health Promotion group education programs for Diabetes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and also for DVA. Elena has a special interest in gastrointestinal disorders management, sports nutrition and chronic disease management.

Jessica Biesiekierski
BAppSci(FoodSciNutr), PhD candidate
AN, RNutr

Jessica specialises in gastrointestinal disorders.
Jessica consults from our Shepparton location.

Jessica is a Registered Nutritionist, currently completing her PhD with Monash University, Box Hill under the supervision of Professor Peter Gibson. Jessica's research investigates the role of FODMAPs and gluten as triggers for gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome. Jessica has received several research awards including the 2009 Douglas Piper Young Investigator Award, Gastroenterological Association of Australia. Jessica is originally from Shepparton and is providing this specialist service whilst she is in the write-up phase of her PhD.

Anna Beaumont
BSc, BND, MPH
APD, AN

Anna specialises in gastrointestinal disorders, sports nutrition, cardiovascular risk reduction, Type II DM and weight management.
Anna consults from our Fitzroy location.

Anna is an accredited practising dietitian who graduated in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has worked in a number of Melbourne hospitals, including private and tertiary teaching hospitals, as well as working in the UK. Anna has predominantly practised in clinical dietetics, but has also worked in community dietetics, health promotion and private practice. Anna has worked across almost all clinical areas including diabetes, cardiovascular health, gastroenterology, oncology, intensive care, trauma and all areas of surgical care including obesity and gastrointestinal surgery. Most recently she was employed as a Senior Dietitian at The Alfred hospital in the role of Cluster Leader of Gastroenterology and Intensive Care, and then Cluster Leader of Surgical Services. Anna has a special interest in gastrointestinal disorders and gastrointestinal surgery. Anna has completed a Master of Public Health through Monash University with a focus on research and quality in health care. She has put this into practice by undertaking a multicentre pilot study of implementing the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for managing colorectal patients at The Alfred hospital.