Nutrition Australia coordinates responses to media requests from sources that will be distributing media responses nationally, through their national media spokesperson who can either respond directly or liaise with Nutrition Australia representatives who may be best suited to respond on particular issues.
When the response to a media request or a media release is to be disseminated within a State or Territory only – not at a national level, the media contact from the relevant State or Territory Divisions can coordinate the response for their Division of Nutrition Australia.
National Media Spokesperson
Aloysa Hourigan
Senior Nutritionist
Nutrition Program Manager
Brief Profile
Aloysa is currently the senior nutritionist and nutrition program manager for Nutrition Australia (QLD) and also works as an Accredited Practising Dietitian in private practice in Brisbane. In addition to her dietetic qualifications Aloysa has a Graduate Diploma in Counselling from the Queensland University of Technology.
Aloysa has a special interest in prevention of chronic disease and promotion of lifestyle change. She has previously worked with the Logan Area Division of General Practice in their Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for over 10 years. Aloysa has represented Nutrition Australia nationally on a number of reference groups and working groups including the “Best Investments in Childhood Obesity” project and on the Australian Divisions of General Practice (ADGP) On-Line Forum on Childhood Obesity. Aloysa has co-authored two Nutrition Australia publications that focus on childhood nutrition – “The Lunchbox Book” and “Fun not Fuss with Food”.
Aloysa is frequently asked for comment on issues such as obesity, encouraging healthy eating and lifestyle change, fad diets, eating disorders, chronic lifestyle diseases, food patterns, obesity in the Australian population, food literacy, food advertising, food sustainability and food labelling.
Aloysa has a great passion for food and for all things associated with the social pleasure of eating and its impact on health.
Victoria and New South Wales Media Spokesperson
Lucinda Hancock
Accredited Nutritionist
VIC & NSW Executive Officer
Nutrition Australia Victorian Division
C/- The Ross House
247 Flinders Lane
Melbourne Vic 3000
Ph 03 9650 5165
Fax 03 9650 4873
Brief Profile
Lucinda Hancock is an Accredited Nutritionist (Dietitians Association of Australia) and is currently the Acting Secretary to the National Board, Convenor of Nutrition Australia’s National Senior Staff Committee and Executive Officer of the Victorian and NSW Divisions of Nutrition Australia. She is responsible for the implementation of all business strategies and operations across the two divisions including the development of sustainable statewide and national nutrition education programs.
Lucinda’s experience in health promotion spans over the past 12 years from working on specific projects in the area of public health and community nutrition to managing a non-government, non-profit national community nutrition education organisation. She is a Public Health Nutritionist and has completed a Masters in Human Nutrition Degree, Bachelor of Science Degree and is currently completing her Masters in Business (Philanthropy and Social Investment).
She is passionate about food, enjoys frequenting the farmers’ markets, a devoted member to slow food and married to a chef whose culinary talents lie in French cuisine.
Victoria Media Spokesperson
Megan Alsford
Accredited Practising Dietitian
Nutrition Australia Victorian Division
Brief Profile
Megan is currently the Professional Services Dietitian for the Dietitians Association of Australia where she works on key public health and food regulation projects. Previously, Megan worked for Nutrition Australia, Victorian Division where she worked for the Canteens Advisory Service. Megan has also worked as a Nutritionist for National Foods in a food industry capacity. Megan is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and also has a Graduate Certificate in Media and Communication.
Megan is a passionate Accredited Practising Dietitian with a desire to reduce nutrition confusion by providing accurate and practical advice on food and nutrition. She has done a lot of work with school canteens and nutrition promotion within schools and the corporate sector. She also has a good understanding of the Australian food supply.
Megan has been working with the media for past few years and has been interviewed by ABC Radio National, Channel 9 News and Triple M as well as a range of print and online publications.
New South Wales Media Spokesperson
Hayley Macfarlane
Accredited Practising Dietitian
Nutrition Information Service Project Officer
Nutrition Australia New South Wales Division
PO Box 71
Oak Flats NSW 2529
Ph 02 4257 9011
Fax 02 4257 9012
Brief Profile
Hayley is currently the Nutrition Information Service project officer for Nutrition Australia NSW Division. Hayley also works as a private practise dietitian specialising in aged care throughout the Illawarra region.
Hayley has a passion for creating nutritious recipes and educating individuals on nutrition to help them make informed decisions. She also has a passion for disadvantaged communities and one day dreams of working as a dietitian in a third world country.
Western Australia Media Spokesperson
Amanda Devine
Accredited Nutritionist and Registered Public Health Nutritionist
Nutrition Australia Director
Nutrition Australia Western Australia Division
Ph 08 6304 5527
Brief Profile
Amanda is an Associate Professor in the Nutrition and Dietetics Program in the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science, ECU. She teaches several units related to nutritional assessment, nutrition through the lifecycle, trends in dietary patterns and exercise nutrition.
She has Accredited Nutritionist status with the DAA and Registered Public Health Nutritionist with the NSA. She has been the Director of Nutrition Australia (WA Division) since 2004. Amanda Devine has been involved in research in the area of bone and calcium disorders since 1990 and she has co-authored more than 50 peer reviewed articles and 2 book chapters.
She has co-authored more than 110 abstracts of which many she has presented at State, National and International Meetings. These publications and presentations have been in the area of nutrition, physiology and bone health.
ACT Media Spokesperson
Leanne Elliston
Accredited Practising Dietitian
Program Manager
Ph 02 6162 2583
Fax 02 6162 2566
email act@nutritionaustralia.org
Brief Profile
Leanne is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Project Manager for Nutrition Australia ACT Division. As a mother of 2 young children and with a keen interest in early childhood nutrition, Leanne spends a great deal of time working with childcare facilities, parent groups and playgroups promoting healthy eating for children.
Leanne has worked in a range of clinical and community settings over the past 12 years, all whilst being a passionate member and advocate for Nutrition Australia.
Leanne also works in Private Practise on a part time basis and sees many clients with preventable lifestyle diseases. This work helps to drive her passion in supporting health promotion strategies for the prevention of such diseases with a focus on targeting the nutritional status of children first and foremost.
When Leanne has any spare time she and her family will use it perfecting their evergrowing vegie patch and flock of chickens whilst still ensuring a good dose of cycling adventures.
