My goal is to provide innovative, compassionate, client-centered care, customising advice to each client’s unique situation to optimise their nutrition
and improve their overall health .
I’m dedicated to making a difference in my clients’ lives, helping them navigate life with the best nutritional support possible.
My story
Hey there! I'm Rachel Fletcher, an Accredited Practising Dietitian with a passion for oncology (Cancer Care) nutrition.
My personal approach to nutrition counselling is based on the belief that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to nutrition and eating.
Everyone has unique dietary needs, preferences, and lifestyle factors that need to be taken into account to achieve success. This is why I take the time to get to know my clients, understand their goals, and work with them to develop a tailored and strategic nutrition plan that they can begin to work into their daily lives.
As a dietitian and a true foodie, I’m passionate about fostering healthy relationships with food. I understand and truly value the social, emotional, and personal significance that food holds in our lives, and I strive to help my clients embrace a balanced, positive approach to eating that enhances both their health and their happiness.
My journey in dietetics began over a decade ago after I graduated with honors in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Wollongong in 2013. I kicked off my career at Liverpool Hospital, working in various specialties like gastroenterology, neurology, surgical, and critical care. However, it was oncology nutrition that became my true calling, as I found myself passionately driven to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing cancer, supporting them as they navigate significant challenges and hurdles.
Over the past eight years, I’ve worked across the entire spectrum of cancer care, supporting clients in public, private, inpatient and outpatient settings. Whether it’s helping with complex bone marrow transplants, treatment for head and neck cancers or working with breast cancer survivors, I’ve been there alongside my clients —from pre-diagnosis to post-treatment, including surgical, radiation, systemic therapies, and palliative care.
Throughout my career, I've gained valuable knowledge on how to help clients manage the challenges of cancer treatment. I have been dedicated to assisting clients manage treatment-related side effects, improve their nutritional intake despite numerous symptoms, and implement pre-treatment nutritional protocols to enhance recovery and outcomes. I have provided tailored, evidence-based recommendations and reassurance to clients overwhelmed by the conflicting information provided by well-meaning friends and family, and the vast expanse of information available online. Guiding clients to optimise their nutrition status and maintain and prevent unintentional loss of muscle mass by ensuring they have the nutritional support necessary to navigate the complexities of cancer treatment with resilience and strength.
One of the aspects I’m particularly passionate about is improving the way we (health professionals and services) identify and screen for and address nutritional risks in cancer care. I’ve led projects to enhance routine nutrition screening and develop referral pathways for high-nutrition risk treatments. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and have guest lectured at Wollongong University and presented at various conferences, seminars and webinars on topics like nutritional management in cancer care and early identification of malnutrition risk. Additionally, I provide peer support, mentoring and supervision to dietetic colleagues, and emerging dietitians looking to upskill in the area.
In 2023, I took my practice a step further by enhancing my counselling skills with the Dietitian Counselling Skills Program. This has provided me with the tools and skills to better connect and engage, with clients better supporting them to achieve their desired health outcomes through sustained dietary and lifestyle changes. My consultations are tailored to each client's unique goals and needs, allowing me to have a positive impact on my clients' lives, helping them achieve better outcomes and make lasting improvements to their health and well-being.