As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been spending time reflecting on what it truly means to build something that lasts – for clients, for teams, and for the profession.
This year marked 18 years of running a thriving private practice business. Eighteen years of learning, adapting, leading, questioning, refining, and staying deeply committed to providing care that is not only evidence-informed, but sustainable and human.
It also marked 10 years of Myrtle Oak Clinic – a milestone I’m incredibly proud of. What began as a clear vision for compassionate, high-quality eating disorder care has grown into a multidisciplinary service grounded in strong clinical governance, values-led leadership, and long-term recovery support.
One of the most meaningful acknowledgements this year was being awarded the Quality in Primary Care Award by Dietitians Australia – and to be recognised again is something I don’t take lightly. This award belongs to our team. It reflects the daily commitment to quality, safety, continuous improvement, and client-centred care that happens behind the scenes, often quietly and consistently.
This year also marked something new for me – becoming an author with the release of my first book, The Confident Dietitian.
Writing a book was never a long-term goal. Instead, it was an idea born out of necessity. Years of mentoring, supervising, and supporting private practice dietitians highlighted a clear gap – not in clinical capability, but in understanding how to navigate, structure, and sustain a career in private practice. The book brings together lived experience, business insight, and practical guidance to help dietitians understand the business skills and client experience design that must sit alongside clinical expertise for long-term career sustainability.
In many ways, the book represents the same philosophy that underpins my businesses – experiment thoughtfully, share openly, and support others to build confidence sooner, not later.
This year, more than ever, has reinforced how critical strong teams and clear systems are.
Across both the NDIS and aged care sectors, we’ve navigated ongoing reform, shifting requirements, and system uncertainty. Through it all, our team has shown resilience, adaptability, and professionalism – working together to create stability, refine processes, and ensure our clients continue to receive high-quality care, even as the external environment kept changing.
From my perspective, this year wasn’t about growth through expansion. It was about growth through refinement.
- Evolving how we design and deliver services
- Strengthening value-add support options for clients
- Investing deeply in our team’s professional development and skills
- Improving how clients experience care – clinically, practically, and emotionally
- Trialing, testing, and refining new approaches before leading the way more broadly
Much of my work has continued to centre on supporting, leading, encouraging, and designing – creating the conditions for others to do their best work, and ensuring our services evolve alongside the people we serve.
I remain deeply committed to: quality care that stands up to scrutiny systems that support clinicians, not burden them leadership that balances compassion with clarity and contributing to a stronger, more sustainable future for private practice dietetics
As I look ahead, my focus is clear:
- Intentional decision-making
- Fewer initiatives, better execution
- Continued investment in people and systems
- Designing services that truly meet clients where they are
Longevity in private practice doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built – thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with purpose.
I’m proud of what we’ve built, grateful for the team beside me, and excited for what’s ahead.
– Jodie
