Meet Mali Unahi – A Glow Group Body Inclusive Dietitian
Welcome, we are so glad you are here.
Healthcare can be an overwhelming space, particularly when trying to find the right clinician to fit your needs.
By way of introducing Glow Group and our philosophies, we thought it may be helpful to share a little more ourselves, our lives and the reason we feel such a strong connection to the work we do each and every day.
Thank you for being here.
Mali’s Story
After finishing my Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Hons), I was unsure of the direction that I wanted to go in the dietetics space. We live in a world fuelled by diet culture and weight stigma, and I knew that I did not want to be a dietitian that was involved in that. Unfortunately though, uni doesn’t always exactly show you what else is out there. As soon as I found Glow Group, I knew that that was the kind of space where I wanted to be, to help create the right kind of change.
Keys to Me
So, here’s just a little about me, my life, and how I like to practise.
- / Traditional nutrition interventions and treatments tend to be very black and white. I believe that everyone’s body, life, lived experiences and personal food story are very different, therefore I believe that nutrition interventions should not be one size fits all. I focus on applying a very individualised approach to each client, in the hopes to provide a space where clients feel heard, respected and empowered.
- / I strive to always provide care from a weight-inclusive, trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming lens, aligned with the principles of Health at Every Size
- / Everyone deserves to eat enough and enjoy themselves whilst doing so. I am passionate about working together to explore your relationship with food and assist you in finding your food freedom.
Loves
- / Woodfired bread from Totti’s
- / Pilates
- / A soppy romance novel
- / Chardonnay
Hates
- / Zucchini noodles
- / Health stigma and our inequitable healthcare system
- / The pressure that social media places on people to look a certain way
My Clinical Passion Areas
Supporting individuals with Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating to find peace (or neutrality) with food. With a particular interest in assisting young people (adolescents to 25 years) navigate this journey.
I can support the following presentations:
- / Anorexia Nervosa
- / Bulimia Nervosa
- / Binge Eating Disorder
- / Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- / Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders
- / Disordered Eating
- / Body Image concerns
- / “Emotional eating”
- / “Over eating”
- / Chronic dieting
- / Food anxiety
- / Sensory differences impacting eating
Neurodiversity Affirming Nutrition Care
- / Neurodivergence and its intersection with eating disorders
- / Nutrition in the context of executive functioning – how we can best manage your spoons!
NDIS Nutrition
Nutrition in the context of physical, neurological, intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. With a particular interest in supporting clients living with Huntingtons Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Muscular Distrophy and Complex Mental Health.
I can support you with:
- / Malnutrition & poor appetite
- / Texture modified diets for dysphagia (in collaboration with your Speech Pathologist)
- / Meal planning, including grocery shopping and recipe supports
- / Person Centered Food Exploration
- / Sensory Differences Impacting Eating
- / Feeding & Eating Concerns
- / Nutritional guidance for medical conditions such as, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, constipation/diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) & irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- / Support worker/carer/family training based on your unique nutritional needs
Training and Credentials
Qualifications
- / Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Hons) 2022
Credentials
- / Accredited practising dietitian (APD)
- / NDIS registered dietitian
Post-graduate training
- / Motivational Interviewing – Tara McGregor
- / Nutrition Counselling for Eating Disorders – Marci Evans
- / RAVE eating model – Shane Jeffrey
- / Inclusive Dietetic Care for the Trans and Gender Diverse Community – Ari Spanos and Majella Jones
How do I like to practise?
Listening to experiences from my clients, it seems common for the lead up to appointments with health practitioners to be a stressful and anxiety inducing time, due to the fear of being judged, shamed or not listened to. These are not the kind of feelings I want to my clients to experience. I aim to have a compassionate approach, creating a space where we can safely unpack your journey, your food story and your personal intentions/goals, whatever they may be.
If you have made it this far, thanks for joining me!
To learn more about our other clinicians click here.
Alternatively, if you would like to book an appointment, please fill out our appointment request form here.
