Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clinical Nutrition and Functional Nutritional Medicine?
Clinical Nutrition applies evidence-based science to assess and manage health and disease through individualised nutritional, nutraceutical, and lifestyle interventions, using clinical assessments and detailed case histories.
Functional Nutritional Medicine complements this by identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, factoring in genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
CPNs trained under AARPN standards use both approaches to provide intergrative, preventative, and therapeutic care, including via telehealth and home consultations.
What is the difference between a Certified Practicing Nutritionist (CPN) and a Dietitian?
CPNs receive over 350 hours of supervised one-on-one clinical practicum during their degree, equipping them with advanced skills in individualised client assessment, therapeutic nutrient interventions, lifestyle modification, and counselling for private practice. Accredited Practicing Dietitians (APDs) also work in private practice, but their undergraduate training centres on aged-care, hospital-based settings, and food service.
CPN training in physical assessment and integrative pharmacology allows independent assessment of a patient’s health status and management of nutrient-drug interactions. CPNs also hold TGA Schedule 1 exemption, enabling autonomous prescribing of nutrients at therapeutic doses with Functional Nutritional Medicine – a scope APDs do not have. APDs generally determine dietary interventions from patient self-reporting, referrals, or lab results, within standard clinical guidelines.
Can you work with those on the NDIS?
Yes. NDIS participants can engage the services of a CPN – see the NDIS page for details.
Do you work with all ages?
People of all ages are treated with the empathy, respect, and dignity they deserve. Every intervention is tailored to the individual’s presenting needs, regardless of physical or mental health history, and is age-appropriate.
Why should I choose Evergreen Clinical Nutrition?
Evergreen Clinical Nutrition combines CPN-level clinical assessment, functional testing, and personalised, evidence-based interventions – not generic diet plans.
No two people are the same. Everyone responds differently to different interventions, which is why you deserve to be treated as the unique individual that you are. Your interventions need to be tailored for YOU, not for everyone else.
Achieving lasting health results is a long-term process, and ECN provides the ongoing support and accountability to see it through.
English