The Society for Australian Independent Dietitian-Nutritionists (AIDNSoc) is a group of qualified dietitians who share the values of expertise, independence and transparency.
Expertise
All members of AIDNSoc have a qualification which enables them to register to practise as a dietitian in Australia. This means they have completed a Bachelor (with honours) or Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in a course that has been accredited by the Australian Dietetics Council. Many members are also Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) accredited through the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA).
Independence
Members of AIDNSoc are committed to the ideal that individual dietetics and nutrition professionals should be free to engage in relationships with businesses to the degree that they choose and to have their interests represented by an impartial body.
Transparency
Members of AIDNSoc believe that information about current and past financial relationships should be accessible to potential customers, clients and/or patients of dietitians. This is so that any potential or real conflicts of interest are visible, and customers, clients and/or patients can make an informed decision about how impartial any advice they are given is likely to be.
What is an Australian Independent Dietitian-Nutritionist (AIDN)?
A member who is recognised by AIDNSoc as an Australian Independent Dietitian-Nutritionist (AIDN) has declared themselves free from relationships with relevant industry for at least 12 months. Please see the registry for more details.
What is an Associate Member?
Associate members are committed to the values of AIDNSoc but may not actively practise dietetics at present, or may have current or recent industry ties. Not all financial or 'in kind' relationships with food industry are created equally and we believe our members, customers, clients and patients benefit from openness and transparency. For example, a potential customer may seek out a dietitian who has worked in a particular industry or industry related role. Associate members are listed separately from AIDNs and have limited executive power within AIDNSoc but may transfer to AIDN status once they have been free from relevant industry relationships for 12 months.
Is AIDNSoc a regulatory board?
AIDNSoc is not a regulatory board and does not stipulate requirements for continuing professional development, recency of practice or complaints/disciplinary procedures.
Neither AIDN or Associate Member status confers eligibility for health service rebates (eg from Medicare or private health insurers). Eligibility for these services is administered by professional associations such as the Dietitians Association of Australia (for Accredited Practising Dietitians) and Complementary Medicine Association (eg for dietitians practising as Nutritionists). Please see the registers to find out which association the member belongs to. Unregistered dietitians are regulated on a state by state basis, for example in Queensland by the Office of the Health Ombudsman.
AIDNSoc simply provides a central platform for dietitians to declare their real or potential conflicts of interest separately from their regulatory body.
Expertise
All members of AIDNSoc have a qualification which enables them to register to practise as a dietitian in Australia. This means they have completed a Bachelor (with honours) or Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in a course that has been accredited by the Australian Dietetics Council. Many members are also Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) accredited through the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA).
Independence
Members of AIDNSoc are committed to the ideal that individual dietetics and nutrition professionals should be free to engage in relationships with businesses to the degree that they choose and to have their interests represented by an impartial body.
Transparency
Members of AIDNSoc believe that information about current and past financial relationships should be accessible to potential customers, clients and/or patients of dietitians. This is so that any potential or real conflicts of interest are visible, and customers, clients and/or patients can make an informed decision about how impartial any advice they are given is likely to be.
What is an Australian Independent Dietitian-Nutritionist (AIDN)?
A member who is recognised by AIDNSoc as an Australian Independent Dietitian-Nutritionist (AIDN) has declared themselves free from relationships with relevant industry for at least 12 months. Please see the registry for more details.
What is an Associate Member?
Associate members are committed to the values of AIDNSoc but may not actively practise dietetics at present, or may have current or recent industry ties. Not all financial or 'in kind' relationships with food industry are created equally and we believe our members, customers, clients and patients benefit from openness and transparency. For example, a potential customer may seek out a dietitian who has worked in a particular industry or industry related role. Associate members are listed separately from AIDNs and have limited executive power within AIDNSoc but may transfer to AIDN status once they have been free from relevant industry relationships for 12 months.
Is AIDNSoc a regulatory board?
AIDNSoc is not a regulatory board and does not stipulate requirements for continuing professional development, recency of practice or complaints/disciplinary procedures.
Neither AIDN or Associate Member status confers eligibility for health service rebates (eg from Medicare or private health insurers). Eligibility for these services is administered by professional associations such as the Dietitians Association of Australia (for Accredited Practising Dietitians) and Complementary Medicine Association (eg for dietitians practising as Nutritionists). Please see the registers to find out which association the member belongs to. Unregistered dietitians are regulated on a state by state basis, for example in Queensland by the Office of the Health Ombudsman.
AIDNSoc simply provides a central platform for dietitians to declare their real or potential conflicts of interest separately from their regulatory body.