Staff

Nutrition and Dietetics

Antoinette Ackerie B Health Sc(Nutrition and Dietetics), B Sc(Microbiology)

  • Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics)
  • Bachelor of Science (Microbiology)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

Antoinette has worked as a dietitian for 10 years in a variety of acute care clinical settings including the Royal Brisbane Hospital in Queensland, The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and The Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin. This has allowed her to gain broad experience in a wide variety of medical disciplines and provided her with experience working with many different community groups.

Since commencing employment at Mater Antoinette has been able to work in the area that is passionate for her which is weight management. She finds this caseload particularly rewarding and interesting. At the Health and Wellness clinic Antoinette predominantly sees patients regarding weight management, gastric banding and bone health. However she also provides nutrition advice for a wide range of general medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

 

Dr. Shelley Wilkinson PhD, BSc(Hons)(Psyc). GradDipNut&Diet. AdvAPD

  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Member of the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA)

Shelley has worked as a Dietitian since 1995. She specialises in the area of women's health, including nutrition for pregnancy and new mums, as well as weight management.

Shelley has a PhD in Health Psychology and her research was part of a community-based healthy pregnancy project, with the focus of her project investigating better ways to support women to achieve a healthier pregnancy through better nutrition, physical activity and smoking cessation. Shelley has also completed the Dr Rick Kausman 'if not dieting' training and incorporates many of these techniques and approaches in her counselling sessions.

Shelley’s current work continues to blend dietetics and psychology—supporting people living healthier lifestyles, particularly through optimal nutrition and supporting the process of behaviour change. At Mater Health and Wellness she sees patients for nutritional counselling for weight loss, including before and after gastric banding, as well as providing nutrition advice and guidance for pregnant and breastfeeding women, using innovative approaches and resources, including the Mater Personalised Pregnancy Weight Tracker.

 

Stephanie Brown

  • Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics)
  • Registered with Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)

Since graduating from Queensland University of Technology in 2004 Stephanie has practised as a dietitian in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Currently she provides dietetics services to both Mater Health and Wellness and Mater Adult's Hospital. Stephanie has experience managing the dietetic care of individuals across a broad range of clinical specialties, with particular interest in the areas of gastroenterology, surgery and critical care.

 

Eimear Carroll B Health Sc(Nutrition and Dietetics)

  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)(provisional)

Eimear qualified as a dietitian in Ireland in 2005. She gained significant dietetic experience whilst working in Ireland in both the adult and paediatric population. Since moving to Australia, she has worked in the Mater Adult Hospital from early 2009. She has a broad clinical knowledge having worked in numerous clinical areas across Mater Health Service’s campus in Brisbane.

Eimear has developed a special interest in oncology and haematology. She recognises the difficulties clients can often have in maintaining good nutrition throughout their cancer treatment. She educates clients on how to reach their nutritional requirements and assists with developing strategies to reduce side effects impacting on a clients’ nutrition. She also offers nutrition advice to clients undergoing stem cell transplants. In addition to the service she provides to Mater Health and Wellness clients, Eimear works on the oncology ward in Mater Private Hospital Brisbane.

 

Ra'eesa Doola (BcHlthSci (Nut&Diet))

  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Member of the Australian Society of Enteral and Parental Nutrition

Ra’eesa graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 2005. She has gained a broad range of clinical knowledge having worked in most clinical areas across Mater’s hospitals. During the past three years Ra’eesa has specialised in the area of nutrition support in the critically ill. She also has a keen interest in providing dietary advice to clients pre and post gastrointestinal surgery including patients that require artificial nutrition support.

 

Annabel Doolan APD, B.HlthSci (Nut & Diet)

  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia(DAA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)

Annabel graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 2000. She has over 10 years of clinical dietetic experience, working in Queensland and Victoria and spending three years practicing in the United Kingdom. She has completed further post graduate paediatric dietetics training through the British Dietetic Association, has been a guest lecturer in paediatric nutrition for the Masters of Nutrition and Dietetic course at Griffith University.

Since joining the Mater Health Services' dietetics team in 2006, Annabel has practiced in a range of clinical paediatric specialties with children of all ages. She has a particular interest in infants and toddlers experiencing faltering growth, feeding difficulties or requiring additional nutrition support and has a weekly Health and Wellness clinic specialising in this area of practice. Annabel currently works in the paediatric intensive care unit, cardiology ward and as a member of the multidisciplinary feeding therapies team.

 

Ellen Heads, BAppSc. GradDipNut&Diet. MHSc

  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

Ellen Heads brings a vast range of experience to Mater Health Services. She has practised as a dietitian since 1997, both in Brisbane and overseas, across a range of clinical specialties. In addition to providing services to Mater Health and Wellness, Ellen is the Senior Dietitian for Women’s Health Services and provides nutrition advice and counselling to patients including nutrition for preconception, pregnancy and new mums, as well as optimisation of nutritional status for gynaecology and gynaecologic oncology patients before, during and after surgery or other treatment modalities.

Ellen also has more than four years experience managing allergy and food intolerance diet investigations in adult clients.

 

Renee Krikowa APD, BNutr, Grad Dip Dietet

  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
  • Associate Member of Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA)
  • ISAK Accredited Anthropometrist - Level 1

Renee graduated from the University of Canberra in 2009 and has since been working as a clinical dietitian in Brisbane. Renee has a strong passion for the area of sports nutrition and assisting athletes to optimise their performance through nutrition.

Renee is a Level 1 Accredited Anthropometrist having completed the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) Level 1 course.

Renee is currently completing a Diploma in Sports Nutrition through the International Olympic Committee and will graduate in October, 2011. Renee also has extensive clinical dietetic experience in the areas of surgery, oncology and gastroenterology.

 

Karen Lawson B.HlthSci (Nut & Diet), APD

  • Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics)
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Member of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian

Karen graduated from Newcastle University and has 12 years of dietetic work experience, which includes six years in London and the United Kingdom. She received specialist paediatric training in the UK, completing the Postgraduate Advanced Course Modules in Paediatric Dietetics, through the British Dietetic Association. Karen also completed the BDA Advanced Course in Neonatal Nutrition. She is a guest lecturer in paediatric nutrition for postgraduate Griffith University students.

Karen has experience within a broad range of paediatric specialist areas and a keen interest in neonatology, allergy and gastroenterology. She has been working at the Mater Children's Hospital for the last three years. Karen also works at Mater Health and Wellness where she regularly sees children with food allergies, faltering growth and feeding problems. She acts as a paediatric dietitian mentor, assisting other dietitians throughout Queensland.

 

Catherine McFarlane APD, BAppSc, Masters Nutr & Diet

  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD)

Catherine has a broad range of clinical experience gained during years as a clinical dietitian, specifically providing nutrition counselling to patients undergoing cancer treatments, as well as providing nutrition advice to patients pre and post surgery. In addition to Mater Health and Wellness clients, Catherine also provides nutrition education and counselling to patients at Mater Private Hospital Brisbane and Mater Adult Hospital. She has a keen interest and significant experience in managing nutritional requirements in cancer patients, particularly throughout different treatment stages and including pre-treatment assessments and advice.

 

Debbie Tolcher (BcHlthSci (Nut&Diet) BcAppSci (Human Movement)

  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)

Debbie has been a Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 6 years. Her experience spans across Australia and the United Kingdom—including locations such as Bundaberg, Cambridge (England) and Wales. Debbie joined the Mater Health Service early 2008 working in the Adult Public and Private hospitals.

It has been during this last 2 ½ years that she has developed a strong interest in working with Oncology and Haematology patients, and joined the Health and Wellness Clinic to provide a specialist service to this population. Of particular note—Debbie recognises the importance of assisting patients to achieve the best possible nutritional status both prior to, during and after their course of treatment.

 

Martine Waters APD, BcHlthSci (nut&diet) HONS

  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian
  • DAA QLD Branch Executive Member

Martine joins Mater Health Services and Health and Wellness Clinic with more than seven years of clinical experience as a dietitian. In addition to providing services to Mater Health and Wellness, Martine is the senior dietitian for adult services and provides nutrition advice and counselling to patients with gastrointestinal difficulties, pre and post lap banding procedures and nutrition advice to women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. She has particular interest and experience providing advice for weight management including counselling pre and post lap banding and works closely with surgeons to ensure that patients have optimal outcomes and experience from their procedure.

 

Linda Winn APD, BcHlthSci (nut&diet)

  • Bachelor of Health Science (Major: Nutrition and Dietetics), QUT.
  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian

As well as working at Mater Health and Wellness, Linda also provides paediatric dietetic services for Mater Children’s Hospital and Mater Children’s Private Hospital. Linda has experience working in both public and private hospitals, nursing homes and private clinics around Brisbane. Her particular areas of interest include working with children with acquired brain injuries and associated feeding difficulties, failure to thrive and weight management issues.

 

Jemma Woodgate BcHlthSci (Nutr & Diet)

  • Registered with Dietitians Association of Australia
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian

Jemma has a range of experience within paediatric dietetics gained from working in several hospitals within Queensland and also practicing in the United Kingdom. Jemma also provides dietetic care to patients at Mater Children’s Hospital within the paediatric intensive care unit and surgical unit and also provides nutritional support for children and adolescents with eating disorders.

Her particular areas of interest are nutritional management of children and adolescents with eating disorders, treatment of infants and children with faltering growth and feeding difficulties.