Changing your membership category
This section applies to Full members only. Affiliate members cannot take parental leave. Affiliate members can email us if they would like to change to a Health professionals or Friends of nutrition category. They may upgrade to Full membership once they meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
You will want to change your membership category if you:
- are taking a career break (e.g. for parental leave or additional study) and deferring your APD Credential
- are returning from a career break and need your APD Credential
- have decreased or increased your work hours
View our membership categories, fees and key dates.
Discover answers to our most commonly asked membership questions.
Affiliate upgrade to full member
If you are an overseas-trained dietitian and have completed the Dietetic Skills Recognition (DSR) or Mutual Recognition process, you are eligible to upgrade from an Affiliate member to a Full member to access APD eligibility.
You will need to select a membership category that reflects your employment status and provide evidence of your completed Dietetic Skills Recognition (DSR) or Mutual Recognition outcome.
Depending on the timing of your upgrade, you may be eligible for a pro-rata membership fee.
Verification of qualifications may take up to 2 business days before your application is approved. Once your membership is approved, we will email you your Dietitians Australia welcome pack.
Student upgrade to full member
If you have completed your studies, you will need to upgrade from a student member to a full member. If your Student Membership is still active, you will automatically be entitled to Graduate category membership rates (25% off a Full Time Membership).
If your Student Membership has lapsed, you will need to select a membership category that reflects your employment status and provide evidence of your course completion.
Depending on the timing of your upgrade, you may be eligible for a pro-rata membership fee.
Student upgrade (to full membership)
Verification of qualifications may take up to 2 business days before your application is approved. Once your membership is approved we will email you your Dietitians Australia welcome pack.
Changes to work hours
If you have changed your work hours, you may also need to change your membership category.
For example, if you were previously unemployed and are now working full time, your membership category would change from ‘Reduced Hours' or ‘Non-practising Dietitian’ to ‘Full Time'.
Your upgrade fee will be calculated as a pro-rata difference between your old and your new fee level. Refunds will not be issued if you change your employment status during the membership year except in the case of parental leave – see the notes below.
Please contact us at [email protected] to change your membership category.
Parental leave
If you are taking parental leave from paid employment, you can change your membership category at any time throughout the year from Full time or Part time to Part time or Reduced hours (if you want to retain your APD Credential while on leave) or Non-practising dietitian (if you wish to defer your APD Credential while on leave).
Swapping to a different category allows us to support you financially and helps you keep in touch with your profession while you're away, making the transition back to work feel easier.
If you have previously paid for a year of membership at the full or quarterly rate before electing to change to a different category for the purposes of parental leave, a pro-rata account credit (minus a small administration fee) will be applied to your membership account*.
A small administration fee will be charged.
Please contact us at [email protected] and let us know that you wish to change category and maintain an active membership.
Categories and fees
Learn more about membership categories and fees.
If you change your employment status during the membership year which then corresponds to a member category with fewer hours, refunds will not be issued. For example, if you become unemployed, retire or take time out to pursue further study.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, or there are extenuating circumstances, you can apply for financial consideration in writing to the Chief Executive Officer. Please contact the Member Care team at [email protected] for assistance.
*To receive this credit, membership with Dietitians Australia needs to remain current (not become lapsed or deferred)