Vanessa Botha (nee Drew)
- Elite and recreation sports nutrition
- Gut health (incl. Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis/Coeliac Disease)
- Eating disorders (adolescence & adult)
Vanessa is an Advanced Sports Dietitian and specialises in sports nutrition for both recreational & elite athletes. With a love for sports from a young age, Vanessa has been involved in competitive cycling, calisthenics, netball, swimming, running, downhill skiing and boxing! While completing her degrees in nutrition & dietetics and exercise science, Vanessa worked as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor.
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Vanessa also specialises in eating disorder management (including family-based therapy for anorexia nervosa, ARFID, BN, BED, orthorexia, AN, OSFED) as part of a multi-disciplinary team that will often include a GP, psychologist and paediatrician/ psychiatrist. Vanessa spent several years working in a specialist eating disorder outpatient program whilst also working in private practice.
Lastly, but not at all at least, Vanessa specialises in the investigation of food allergies & intolerances (including coeliac disease, the RPAH low chemical diagnostic diet, the CDED diet, food protein allergies) and optimising overall nutrition particularly when foods have had to be eliminated.
Personally, Vanessa has a strong family history of food allergies – Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, peanut/egg/lupin allergy and food chemical intolerances. Having to fuel her athletic sons on a gluten & peanut free diet is a welcome challenge!
Vanessa is based at our Eltham location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Brittany Andreola
- Sports nutrition
- Eating disorders (adolescence & adult)
- IBS/FODMAPs
- Women’s health (incl. PCOS)
Brittany is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Advanced Sports Dietitian, and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician. Brittany’s love and passion for dietetics and nutrition has come from her sporting background and love for cooking. Brittany has been involved in basketball since she was little and played a range of different sports, including dancing when she was younger. Brittany is still heavily involved in basketball and has a passion for fitness, which she previously worked as a cycle instructor.
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Brittany is based at our Eltham and Croydon locations, and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Jennifer Ballard (nee Baxter)
- Paediatrics (fussy eating, intolerances/sensitivities and failure to thrive issues)
- IBS/FODMAPs
- General dietetics
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Jennie has been a dietitian for over 17 years, she has worked in a variety of settings in metropolitan and rural Melbourne, including community health, community rehabilitation (cardiac, pulmonary, and general rehabilitation) and hospitals. Jennie has also worked in private practice for over 10 years specialising in weight concerns, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, paediatric and sports nutrition.
Jennie is based at our Chirnside Park location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Samantha Brazzale
- Paediatric nutrition (fussy eating, failure to thrive issues)
- Food interaction sessions (for challenging feeders)
- IBS/FODMAPs
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Since graduating from Monash University in 2009, Samantha has worked in a variety of settings including community health, private practice, and aged care. Throughout her career, Samantha has worked with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds and age groups. She has gained experience working with clients with a range of different nutrition related concerns such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fussy eating, failure to thrive, weight management, type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Samantha has a particular interest in working with children and families and has completed additional study in this area; including the completion of the SOS Approach to Fussy Eating course which she incorporates aspects of into her clinical practice. Samantha recently enhanced her qualifications by completing “The Get Permission Approach to Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes” course.
Samantha runs food interaction sessions with children of various ages (both face-to-face and via telehealth) to provide additional support for children with food aversions and restricted eating patterns (and their families).
Samantha is based at our Eltham location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Jane Williamson
- Geriatric nutrition (malnutrition, healthy eating for the elderly)
- Chronic disease management (incl. Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease)
- IBS/FODMAPs
- Gut health
- General dietetics (incl. high cholesterol, healthy eating)
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Since graduating from the Queensland University of Technology in 2008, Jane has worked with in numerous private practices and aged care facilities in both regional and urban areas of Queensland.
She has recently moved to Melbourne and is enjoying exploring her new surroundings. Jane also enjoys leisure swimming, creating meals with produce from her burgeoning vegetable garden, chasing after her toddler, watching reality television, listening to podcasts, reading and attending live music shows whenever time allows.
Jane is based at our Eltham location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Maddie Lawson
- Sports nutrition
- Eating disorders (adolescence & adult)
- Neurodiversity
- IBS/FODMAPs
- General dietetics
Maddie is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) and holds a Masters of Dietetics and a Bachelor Degree of Nutrition Science from Deakin University. Maddie is a warm, friendly and empathetic Dietitian, with a keen interest in Sports Nutrition, eating disorders, neurodivergent conditions (ASD & ADHD) and Gut Health (Including Irritable Bowel Syndrome – IBS).
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She is passionate about empowering athletes and clients of all ages and abilities with the nutrition tools to help build & restore their relationship with food and to make nutrition choices that promote health, performance and most importantly enjoyment! Maddie’s passion for Sports Nutrition began in her late teens, when she began competing as a long-distance and track runner for Deakin University and Richmond Harriers. Through her sporting background she saw first-hand the power of good nutrition on not only sports performance, but on athletes physical and mental health. Maddie has furthered her sporting experience, working and completing internships across a variety of sporting teams including, Darebin Football Club (VFLW), Geelong Football Club (AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW). She currently works as the head high performance dietitian for the VFL / VFLW Club Box Hill Hawks and as an assistant for Hawthorn Football Club (AFL / AFLW).
In addition, Maddie has first-hand experience with food intolerance and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, where she gained great insight and understanding of how debilitating some symptoms can be on your quality of life. Through this experience she can assist those who need specialist advice navigate their gut health journey, whilst working within the everyday constraints of life.
Outside of her work as a dietitian, Maddie enjoys burning up the local running trails, exploring new hiking trails, socialising with friends, attending concerts, and travelling. Maddie has completed the Monash FODMAP Training Course for Dietitians and is a member of Dietitians Australia. She is currently completing her accreditation to become a Sports Dietitian with Sports Dietitians Australia.
Maddie is based at our Eltham location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Liana Tieri
- Eating disorders (adolescence & adult)
- Chronic disease (incl. diabetes & heart disease)
- General dietetics
Liana is a caring Accredited Practising Dietitian who is dedicated to working with individuals experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating, chronic dieting and body image concerns. Guided by the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES)® and Intuitive Eating, Liana uses the non-diet approach to help individuals overcome their troubled relationship with food in a way that is compassionate and curious.
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Liana enjoys unpacking with you what, when, why, and how food became complicated, and most importantly, the what now?!
Liana also works within a specialist eating disorder service in Melbourne alongside psychologists, and combines this experience along with additional training in CBT-E, DBT, Family Based Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to support those experiencing mental health challenges and enhance her dietetic care. It goes without saying that as a dietitian Liana also loves using the non-diet approach to support clients of all ages, genders and backgrounds in managing nutrition for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver, aged care, gastrointestinal issues as well as overall health!
Liana is dedicated to journeying with each client she works with and believes respectful collaboration is key in developing positive changes. Most of all, she finds joy in helping individuals establish or rediscover a peaceful relationship with food and believes this is within reach for everyone, no matter where the journey began!
Liana is based at our Eltham location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Elisabeth (Liz) Heather
- Sports nutrition
- Eating disorders (adolescence & adult)
- IBS/FODMAPs
- General dietetics
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Her interests lie in nutrition for endurance sports. Cycling is particularly close to her heart as she and her family enjoy cycling and her oldest son competed at an elite level for many years in both road and track cycling. She has worked with many elite junior athletes and understands the demands of training, school and life. She is consulting to the Australian Cycling academy a national road series team, working 1 on 1 with elite athletes as well as working with recreational athletes, where she tailors evidence-based nutrition and hydration strategies to meet the needs of these individual athletes so that they can live and perform at their best.
Liz also works with individuals experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating and chronic dieting, she follows a non-diet and HAES ® (health and every size) approach when working together with clients, that is tailored to the individual and their needs, to help them find a way forward.
Liz is currently offering telehealth appointments.
Tegan Bonham
- Paediatrics (fussy eating, intolerances/sensitivities and failure to thrive issues)
- IBS/FODMAPs
- Chronic disease (incl. Diabetes & Heart Disease)
- Gut health (incl. Crohn’s disease/Ulcerative Colitis/Coeliac Disease)
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- Allergies and Intolerances (including Elimination Diet and FODMAPs)
- Coeliac Disease
- Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational)
- Heart Health (including high blood pressure and high cholesterol)
- Gut Health – including Coeliac Disease, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
- IBS
- Allergies and Intolerances
- Challenging Feeders and Sensory Feeding issues – SOS trained
- Fussy Eating
- Growth concerns and Failure to thrive
- Gut health – including Coeliac Disease
Tegan is based at our Chirnside Park and Eltham locations and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Colin (Nikko) Shaw
- Sports nutrition
- Chronic disease (incl. Diabetes & Heart Disease)
- Gut health
- General dietetics
Nikko is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who graduated from La Trobe University in 2022, holding a Masters of Dietetic Practice and a Bachelor degree in Human Nutrition. His areas of interest include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and endocrinology, gut health, and sports nutrition.
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Having grown up immersed in high-level sports, Nikko intimately understands the nutritional challenges athletes encounter and is committed to providing them with the guidance and support he wished he had received. Since graduating, Nikko has volunteered with various basketball associations, developing resources and delivering public presentations on healthy eating and sports nutrition. He has also expanded his skills through additional training in areas such as IBS management.
Nikko is conscious of the everyday difficulties that can interfere with peoples’ health journey. He collaborates closely with his patients to tailor nutrition plans that fit smoothly into their lifestyle and individual needs. Recognising that each person is unique, he believes in offering flexibility, understanding that what works for one may not work for another. With this approach, Nikko helps his patients to effectively manage their conditions by exploring multiple strategies.
Outside of his professional endeavours, Nikko enjoys surfing by the beach, unwinding around a campfire, or simply sharing a coffee with good company.
Nikko is based at our Alphington location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Alessandra La Mattina
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Gut health (incl. FODMAPs, IBS, IBD, Diverticular Disease)
- Metabolic Disease
- Geriatric nutrition
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You can feel comfortable knowing that Alessandra can assist you with your biggest concerns and help enable you to achieve your health goals. Alessandra believes in addressing immediate concerns, however, also providing long-term solutions. Challenges, preferences, lifestyle, culture and barriers are all considered when assessing a client and developing tailored care plans. This also ensures that continued optimal results are achieved across the course of the client’s health journey.
Renske Dijkhuis (on maternity leave)
- IBS/FODMAPs
- Chronic disease (incl. Diabetes & Heart Disease)
- Women’s health (incl. PCOS)
- General dietetics
Renske graduated with a Bachelor of Dietetics with honours in the Netherlands before going on to complete a Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics at Deakin University.
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Renske prides herself on helping all people reach their nutrition goals with client centred practice and evidence-based nutrition advice. Renske specialises in diabetes, chronic disease management, weight concerns, FODMAP/fructose malabsorption and PCOS. However, her main interests lie in working with and supporting people across the spectrum of disordered eating and eating disorders. Renske believes in working within the Health at Every Size (HAES)® paradigm, endeavouring to help people establish a healthy relationship with food.
Renske’s knowledge is widely varied which gives her a wealth of expertise across several nutritional health issues. Besides working in private practice the majority of her time, she also tutors and lectures at universities in Melbourne and works as a dietitian in the residential aged care setting.
Renske is based at our Eltham location and is available for telehealth appointments from all other locations.
Terrill Bruere (not taking new patients)
Terrill is a private practice dietitian with a wealth of experience including women’s health, eating behaviour and understanding people’s relationship with their bodies and nutrition.
Terrill has worked in public and private eating disorder services in Melbourne and with both adults and adolescents so has an extensive professional network and understanding of treatment choices.
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Terrill sees people of any age or gender for eating disorder concerns. This includes younger people at risk or with early presentation, families struggling with eating issues, Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and Atypical presentations such as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Terrill worked at both Jean Hailes For Womens Health and the Royal Women’s Hospital for over 15 years. She was one of the first to promote a whole health and lifestyle approach to treatment of PCOS, fertility and other hormonal concerns throughout a woman’s lifecycle. Terrill continues also to educate other health professionals so all women can have a better experience of diagnosis and treatment.
Terrill enjoys influencing the development of innovative ideas and services that are built on a respectful client centred approach and a good evidence base. Terrill has further training in counselling that include Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has the privilege of supervising and training other dietitians in this work and frequently being requested for workshops and public speaking.
Terrill understands life balance and in her own life uses a mindful approach to balancing work life with creative arts and a busy family life, while sustaining her passion for this work with people.
Brianna Henery (on maternity leave)
Brianna is a passionate dietitian who has worked extensively in diabetes management, cardiovascular disease, oncology, aged care, COPD, coeliac disease, mental health and addiction. Brianna has completed further education in non-diet approach, cardiovascular health and enteral feeding.
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Brianna also works in a regional hospital where she liaises closely with diabetes educators and allied health staff. Brianna has a strong belief in working as a team to achieve an individual’s health and nutrition goals. As an aged care dietitian, she also enjoys working with her clients to find more enjoyment in their meals and improve quality of life.
Brianna has also worked in corporate health including running seminars and webinars, cooking classes and individual consultations in the workplace. Brianna has worked as a dietitian in a great variety of locations from the mines in Central Queensland to corporate offices in the Melbourne CBD – this experience highlighted the importance of individualised nutrition therapy and patient-centred care which has formed an integral part of Brianna’s dietetic practice.
Brianna loves working with people from varied backgrounds, learning about their relationship with food and helping them to feel their best.
Other Practitioners
Nicole Bester
- Paediatrics
- Group therapy programs
- Neurodiversity, particularly in females
- Gross motor skills, including balance, coordination, core strength and postural strength and control
- Fine motor skills, including shoulder stability, wrist, hand and finger strength, in hand manipulation, grasp and release, hand eye-coordination, bilateral integration and handwriting
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- Visual motor integration including being able to throw and catch a ball
- Learning and becoming more independent with self-care tasks such as getting dressed, tying up shoelaces, eating, brushing teeth, bathing or showering, toileting and sleep
- Exploring individual sensory needs and preferences and assisting with strategies for sensory regulation.
- Equipment recommendations
- Collaborating with educators to educate and provide strategies to support students to be able to participate in pre-school and/or school
Nicole is a play based Occupational Therapist who is extremely passionate about working with children of all ages and abilities, and their families, and supporting them to reach their full potential so that they can participate in society and lead fulfilling lives. Nicole has also completed a certificate in Clinical Play Therapy and is currently working towards her registration as a registered Play Therapist (RPT).
Nicole loves to give back to her community and has several years of experience volunteering with a range of age groups from birth -107 years of age across a diverse range of settings, including 6 years in the early intervention setting assisting with group therapy programs. Nicole regularly volunteers her art and craft skills at charity events and fundraisers and is an advocate for the Rare Disease community. She combines her love of working with children with her knowledge on the development of fine and gross motor skills to create fun and creative play-based activities based on the children’s interests which also work towards their goals. Nicole has an interest in group therapy programs and school readiness skills and has facilitated multiple group therapy programs.
Nicole is also very creative. She has a strong interest in the arts, especially visual arts, dance and music, as well as in nature which she incorporates into Occupational Therapy goals.
Nicole uses a child centred, neuro affirming and strength-based, approach, meeting the child where they are at as she strongly believes that everyone should be given opportunities in life to share their skills regardless of their differences.
Dr. Brooke Heinicke
Dr. Brooke Heinicke specialises in working with people with eating disorders. She has worked in eating disorder research, a specialised eating disorder outpatient facility, as well as in her own private practice since 2009. She is passionate about working with people with all types of eating disorders, disordered eating and body image concerns.
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Brooke has developed and evaluated an internet-based body image program for disordered eating and body dissatisfaction (Heinicke et al., 2007). She works with people over the age of 18 years, is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders and a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC).
Reception
Melissa Lont (Practice Manager)
Melissa is a local resident who, while overseeing the day to day running of the clinic as our Practice Manager is also an active member of the wonderful reception team. Melissa is often found at the front desk welcoming clients into the clinic.
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Melissa brings her knowledge from previous positions working in dental clinics as well as being involved with her family’s local business. In her spare time Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and her menagerie of animals.
Cassandra Marshall
Cassandra is an integral member of the Peak Health & Nutrition team, who primarily assists clients, and takes on the role of website and social media administrator.
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Jade Pirie
Jade is a dedicated member of the Peak Health & Nutrition team, currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at RMIT University. Her passion for health and fitness extends beyond her studies, as she is an avid gym enthusiast and loves taking her two dogs on walks.
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