Dietitians

Vanessa Drew

Vanessa is an Acc. Sports Dietitian and specialises in sports nutrition for both recreational & elite athletes. With a love for sports from a very young age, Vanessa has been involved in competitive cross-country/road cycling, calisthenics, netball, swimming, long-distance running, downhill skiing and boxing! While completing her degree’s in nutrition & dietetics / exercise science, Vanessa worked as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor.

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 if needed. 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 coeliacs disease, the RPAH low chemical diagnostic 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 – coeliacs disease, peanut/egg allergy and food chemical intolerances in particular. Having to fuel her energetic son on a gluten & peanut free diet is a welcome challenge!

Jemma Watkins

Jemma specialises in paediatric and gastrointestinal nutrition. Her areas of expertise include food allergies and intolerances, fussy eating, paediatric weight concerns, IBS, FODMAP malabsorption (including fructose and lactose), elimination diets, coeliac disease, chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis. She is also interested in women’s health, including nutrition during pregnancy and lactation and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Jemma graduated from Monash University in 2003 and has since completed a Certificate of Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics and additional training in management of food allergies, fussy eating, the low FODMAP diet and coeliac disease. She has worked in a variety of settings, including the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Jemma has developed an abundance of allergy-friendly recipes. Her family presents her with an abundance of dietary requirements including coeliac disease, cow’s milk/soy protein allergies, lactose intolerance, FODMAP/fructose malabsorption, fussy eaters and vegetarians.

That’s a family you wouldn’t want to invite over for dinner!

Additionally, Jemma provides talks to schools, early childhood centres, other organisations, health professionals and university students.

Jemma works at our Alphington, Surrey Hills and Eltham locations.

Kathryn Toohey

Kathryn is passionate about working with individuals, children and families to find practical solutions to complex nutrition problems. With over 15 years’ experience working in paediatrices, community health and aged care, in multi-disciplinary teams Kathryn values a team based approach, recognising that food interacts with all facets of life.

Working with neurodiverse individuals and families, to recognise and respect the strengths and challenges that come with neurological differences such as ADHD and Autism is where Kathryn thrives. Helping people understand the WHY of their nutrition problem and collaboratively developing strategies brings immense joy to Kathryn. Kathryn always works from a strengths based approach, supporting positive changes and accepting difference in both what and how nutrition/food is approached enables families to enjoy mealtimes together and find their own way of doing things.

Kathryn’s expertise in this area is recognised by Dietitians Australia achieving the credential of Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD). Kathryn is also the course coordinator of Dietetics at La Trobe University where she passionately teaches future dietitians to think broadly, to stay curious and always keep learning.

Kirsty (Kess) O’Loghlen

Kess is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician with a special interest in disordered eating, eating disorders, mental health nutrition and those wishing to improve their relationship with food.

Kess enjoys working with people to explore their individual challenges with food. She will typically work on eating foundations which include nutritional adequacy, to then work towards challenging variety, building flexibility with eating, working through any food fears and supporting individuals to reconnect with their individual taste preferences. This creates a platform to reconnect with cues of hunger, fullness and satisfaction. This is underpinned by ongoing work to build a more trusting, positive relationship with food.

Kess also supports individuals with a wide range of health concerns including PCOS, Gastrointestinal Conditions (including IBS and food intolerance), Heart Health, Renal, Liver conditions and nutrition across the lifespan.

Kess also works in a Statewide Specialist Eating Disorders Unit and has a background in Psychology. She aims to provide a compassionate, non-judgemental and supportive environment. Kess is a dedicated dietitian who loves keeping on top of the ever changing space of nutrition research. She has additional training in Family Based Treatment (FBT), CBT-E, the Non Diet Approach and Motivational Interviewing.

Kess engages in regular supervision and self-reflective practices to ensure her clients receive high quality care.

Kess is available in our Eltham location.

Brittany Andreola

Brittany is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Sports Dietitian with special interesting in performance nutrition (recreational and elite), disordered and eating disorders, preventative nutrition and healthy eating for all. She has been involved in elite basketball at national levels. During her studies became a personal trainer and group fitness instructor.

Brittany is currently working alongside VFL team, Northern Bullants, NAB league’s, Eastern Ranges, Rowville Sports Academy, Basketball Victoria’s Start Development Program and many triathlon/ironman/endurance event athletes. She has been able to work with dietitians from the Victorian Institute of Sport, Richmond Football Club, Melbourne Football Club and Melbourne United NBL Team. She works with individuals to reach their nutrition goals from a performance perspective, tailor nutrition approaches for athletes suffering from gut problems (including IBS) and disordered eating/eating disorders with health at front of mind.

Since graduating Brittany has been working in aged care facilities, oncology, weight management, and chronic health conditions. Brittany treats each patient individually and tailors their nutrition approach to their needs and goals using evidenced-based nutrition practices.

Brittany works at out Croydon and Eltham locations.

Liana Tieri

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 – she enjoys unpacking with you the what, when, why, 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 available at our Eltham location.

Jennifer Ballard (Baxter)

Jennie is a very versatile dietitian who specialises in areas of paediatrics, FODMAPS and elimination diet.

Jennie has been a dietitian for 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 Endeavour Hills location but is currently offering Telehealth appointments.

Terrill Bruere (not taking new patients)

Terril is a private practice dietitian with a wealth of experience including women’s health, eating behaviour and understanding people’s relatinship 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. She 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. She 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 centered approach and a good evidence base. She has further training in counselling that include Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral 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.

Samantha Brazzale

Samantha is a friendly and enthusiastic dietitian who works with children, individuals and families to empower and support them to address their nutrition related goals.

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 cultral 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 4 day course which she incorporates aspects of into her clinical practice.

Renske Dijkhuis (on maternity leave)

Renske graduated with a Bachelor of Dietetics with honours in the Netherlands before going on to complete a Master’s of Nutrition and Dietetics at Deakin University.

Renske prides herself on helping all people reach their nutrition goals with client centered practice and evidence-based nutrition advice. She 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 ® paradigm, endeavoring to help people establish a healthy relationship with food.

Renske’s workload is greatly varied which gives her expertise in a variety of 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.

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. She has completed further education in non-diet approach, cardiovascular health and enteral feeding.

Brianna also works in a regional hospital where she liaises closely with diabetes educators and allied health staff. She 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. She 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.

Accredited Practising Dietitians