Dietitians, Disability, and Dinner: A Night of Collaboration and Conversation in Melbourne

At Kalkoup Community Care, we believe that the best outcomes for children with complex needs come from working together — across professions, services, and systems. Last week, that collaborative spirit was alive and well in Melbourne, where our Founding Director and Clinical Nurse Coordinator Siobhan Hegarty was invited as a guest speaker at a special event held for attendees of the Dietitians Unite 2025 Conference.

In line with the events mission, it quickly became a hub of connection, shared learning, and purpose-driven discussion. Held at the stunning Arc One Gallery at Cumulus Inc., the event brought together passionate professionals committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities through food, nutrition, and clinical care.

Siobhan had the privilege of presenting on “Working Together for Paediatric Enteral Feeding Success,” a topic deeply connected to her clinical work and values at Kalkoup. She spoke about the essential collaboration between community nurses, dietitians, and allied health professionals in supporting children and young people with enteral feeding needs. Her insights into shared advocacy and collaborative clinical reporting resonated strongly with the audience.

“It was an honour to contribute to the conversation around redefining nursing collaboration with dietitians,” Siobhan said. “There is a vital place for all of us in the NDIS space, and this was a valuable opportunity to advocate for a truly team-based approach to care within allied health.”

Sharing the stage with Lina Breik and Kim Lunardi — two of the most respected and influential voices in the field of disability and dietetics — was a true career highlight. Their leadership and depth of knowledge brought enormous value to the evening, and it was a significant honour for Siobhan to present alongside them. The event drew an incredible group of dietitians, all committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and improving outcomes for individuals with complex needs.

A huge thank you to Murray, Serge, Cassandra, Jade, Renay, Lara, and everyone who helped bring this evening together held by Surgical House — as well as their long-standing product and education partners from Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, and Avanos Medical. Their contributions continue to shape the standard of care we’re proud to deliver.

At Kalkoup, events like this fuel our mission: to bring clinical insight into community care in a way that’s collaborative, comfortable, and centred around the person. We’re so proud of Siobhan for representing not only our team, but the broader role of nurses in the NDIS space.