About Us

Your Team

At OnCore Nutrition we strive to keep you well. Regardless of your health concerns or treatment plans, we will empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to nurture yourself or your loved ones to achieve optimal health.

With significant, specialised experience in nutrition and dietetics, the team at OnCore can provide tailored nutrition advice specific to your health and wellness goals.

For oncology, eating disorder and weight management needs, the OnCore team have post-graduate training to support and nurture your relationship with food and your body.

LAUREN ATKINS

Lauren is passionate about oncology care, preventative nutrition and empowering you with innovative strategies to improve your health, body composition and food relationship.

Lauren has over ten years’ experience in cancer care, managing all tumour types across all adult and paediatric age groups. She is passionate about applying her knowledge food elements, nutrients and eating patterns to prevent, manage and recover from cancer and a range of other health conditions. She has a passion for nurturing you from the inside out and is committed to supporting you to tailor your lifestyle to feel the best version of yourself.

She is passionate and experienced with the management of gastrointestinal disorders, including those related to surgical or anatomical changes, cancer treatment and other medical interventions, functional gut disorders and irritable bowel syndrome. She takes a holistic approach to managing your symptoms and gut health.

Lauren has undertaken post graduate study in the Non-Diet Approach, Complementary and Alternative Therapies, Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics, Cancer Survivorship, FODMAP and IBS, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), eating disorder credentialed (CEDC) through the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) and the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour (ACFEB) and has worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Children’s Cancer Centre managing children and adolescents of all ages and cancer types.

Lauren is a member of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Nutrition Group Executive Committee and has been recognised for her expertise in nutritional management of adolescent and young adult cancer care and cancer care planning at a national level.

Her interests include attempting to brighten your day with a curated joke (whether you like it or not!), the perfect cup of tea and her blue heeler who matches her energy levels!

ELISE DEN

Elise has a strong passion for oncology nutrition and eating disorders. She committed to providing evidence based, collaborative, nurturing and client-centred nutrition care to support her clients in overcoming disordered eating patterns and breaking free from diet culture.

She has experience working in eating disorder units in both public and private hospitals in Victoria and has advanced training in Eating Disorder management, credentialed through ANZAED and the Australian Centre of Eating Disorders. Elise is a registered preferred provider for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Mental Health Referral Network to support elite athletes who struggle with disordered eating. She prides herself on providing a safe space to discuss beliefs, emotions and feelings and believes that recovery is possible. Through her inclusive and insightful counselling skills helps she is able to support her clients to build and nurture a healthy relationship with food and their body.

She is experienced in providing optimal care for patients with gastrointestinal disorders including cancer, IBS, IBD and malabsorption. She has years of experience managing a range of different chronic diseases and has innovative ways to deliver evidence-based nutrition therapy. Elise has experience in implementing enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and has been recognised for her expertise in gastrointestinal surgical care.

Elise’s interests include volunteering to support our four-legged friends (or three-legged in the case of her beautiful rescue dog Jethro) and as many lattes as she can find time to get her hands on!

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NAOMI LAWRANCE

Naomi is passionate about supporting people to make lasting changes to enhance their health and improve their relationship with food. She recognises that each person has a unique background and goals therefore requires a tailored plan to optimise their health. Her approach to nutrition is holistic, individualised and evidence based. 

Naomi is highly experienced in supporting those touched by cancer and has spent many years working in a specialist oncology centre. Naomi understands the complex and evolving needs of those living with cancer, through all stages of their journey. She recognises the confusing and overwhelming nature of advice people receive, and ensures that everyone feels understood and empowered to make their own educated decisions. 

Naomi provides a safe and nurturing space for clients to explore their relationship with food and is passionate about helping individuals overcome disordered eating and body image concerns.

With an energetic and bubbly personality, Naomi is a self-professed geek who loves to dive deep into nutrition science. She combines this enthusiasm for seeking knowledge with a warm personality and an ability to adapt evidence-based nutrition information into practical tips for everyday life. Naomi is experienced in supporting people with a range of different chronic health conditions and uses a weight inclusive approach in her work.

When Naomi knocks off she grabs her surfboard and heads straight for the waves, where she is usually found splashing about in the white wash, but having heaps of fun anyway!

CAITY SMITH-GILLIS

Caity is committed to providing evidence-based dietetic care that is equitable, accessible, and culturally appropriate for her clients. She has several clinical areas of interest including oncology nutrition, women’s health and reproductive nutrition, disordered eating, Non-Diet Approach and Health At Every Size®, and preventative and general nutrition.

Prior to realising dietetics was her dream career, Caity completed a bachelor’s degree majoring in psychology. These skills are something she now uses to enhance her dietetic approach and to create a supportive and safe environment for her clients.

She is also passionate about evidence-based nutrition advice, having contributed to prostate and lung cancer nutrition research at Deakin University and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

In her down time Caity can be found curled up with a good book, trekking across Melbourne in search of the best almond croissant/strong latte combo or still trying to perfect that sourdough bread that she started during the Melbourne lockdown.

PHOEBE ASHFORD

Phoebe is passionate about creating a safe and nurturing space for people to share their stories and ultimately empower them with evidence-based knowledge to make decisions which nourish their bodies and their souls. 

Having had lived experience with an eating disorder, Phoebe is driven to help others find freedom in recovery also, with open and honest conversations.

Phoebe has also had experience working as a dietitian in a well recognised oncology hospital, a place which holds a special place in her heart. Phoebe understands the overwhelming nature of a cancer or chronic disease diagnosis and hopes to create an environment which makes everyone feel seen, heard, safe and empowered. 

On the weekends, Phoebe will either be trying out a funky new restaurant with some natty wines, patting lots of dogs, having a boogie or going for a little surf (and attempting to enter the green room 🤙🏽🌊 ).

JESS SMITH

Jess is dedicated to providing a safe, non-judgemental, and supportive environment to explore relationships with food and make long term, sustainable changes in all ages – from paediatrics all the way through to adulthood.  

After healing her own relationship with food, Jess understands the complexity of eating disorders and disordered eating. She is passionate about using an evidence based, collaborative approach to nurture people through mending their own relationships with food and body image, and ultimately providing them with the tools and knowledge to nourish themselves and find peace within their bodies.

Jess practises with a weight neutral, non-diet, health at every size approach. She has several areas of interest including eating disorders and disordered eating, preventative nutrition, paediatrics and oncology. In particular she has experience in the eating and feeding disorder space, working with young children and families through to adults.

In her downtime, Jess will be found dragging friends and family on adventurous hikes, exploring Melbourne’s best cafes and restaurants, cooking up her famous choc chip cookies or chilling out at the local beach.

MEAGAN WALL

Meagan is committed to providing practical nutrition advice that fits your lifestyle. She aims to ensure that the evidence based science is easily translated to her clients, and can be implemented to fit their needs and goals. 

Meagan combines her work with OnCore with her role at Epworth Health and has a particular interest in nutrition for illness recovery and supporting other active treatments such as chemotherapy or a rehabilitation program. She also encourages the importance of preventative nutrition interventions to optimise health. 

Having worked in a variety of clinical settings she is passionate about the patient and client experience. Her focus is on holistic health and she understands the benefits of working alongside other health care professionals to achieve best patient outcomes. 

A lover of all foods, cultures and cuisines, Meagan is always looking outside the box for new experiences and ideas. She likes to think she has a bit of a green thumb and being able to use homegrown produce is one of her favourite things to do.

MILLIE O’BRIEN

Millie is a certified all rounder! Not only is she a systems guru having worked in allied health practice management and at Alfred Health, she’s also a trained Clinical Myotherapist. She is combining her myotherapy work at Reload Physio with A-grade admin at OnCore.

In Millie’s free time, she enjoys cooking for friends over a glass of wine and catching up on her favourite podcasts over a long walk or run. Millie is passionate about providing quality healthcare and helping others have a positive experience in their health care journey.

We hope you get a chance to chat or type to her soon!

NICKI GRILLO

We can’t believe our luck in landing Nicki! Not only are her admin, attention to detail and communication skills exceptional, she also has a Nutrition and Dietetics degree! Nicki and Lauren studied together at Monash Uni, they’ve been good friends ever since and now have the pleasure of working together.

On top of all this, Nicki has a heart of pure gold. Her laugh is infectious and if you’re lucky enough to experience her cooking, it will be love at first bite!