Name: Michelle Cort

Position: Sports Dietitian for Cricket Australia and the Gold Coast AFL Club. AIS Consultant Sports Dietitian to the AIS AFL and Cricket programs.

Lives: Recently moved back to sunny Brisbane!!  (from Sydney (3years) via Canberra (4 years))

Favourite food: Fresh seafood, cheese and dark chocolate

Favourite sport: AFL and Cricket (have to keep both my employers happy!)

Briefly tell us about yourself. How did you become a sports dietitian?

Becoming a sports dietitian was my goal since leaving school and the reason I studied nutrition. After graduating from Uni and undertaking the SDA Sports Nutrition Course I did the "Europe Backpacking" scene for a couple of years before coming back to Brisbane and setting up in private practice in several sports medicine centres. From this I became involved with the Brisbane Lions AFL club, AIS Diving and the QAS. I spent my time juggling these responsibilities before gaining a position at the AIS. After four years in Canberra I moved to Sydney and continued to work as an AIS consultant while also working with professional AFL, Super 14 Rugby Union and NRL Clubs.

What other areas of dietetics are you interested in?

General nutrition for a healthy lifestyle is a big one for me. I’m also interested into the link between nutrition and various forms of treatment for mental illness. It’s a relatively new area of research and one that I am interested in monitoring. 

Why did you become involved with SDA?

Initially I became involved with SDA to network and liaise with other sports dietitians as I was working as a sole practitioner in Brisbane. The professional development opportunities that arose from this were great. SDA provides a voice and recognition to sports dietitians in Australia and is a valuable organisation for all sports dietitians, athletes and coaches.

What do you see are some of the major issues for SDA over the next 5 years?

Maintaining a visible role as an authority and on sports nutrition in Australia when many other less reputable organisations are also providing information to the public. Ensuring Sports Dietitians evolve as practitioners (both in knowledge and execution) so that our “clients” (ie: athletes, coaches etc.) are getting what is relevant to them in achieving their goals. This in turn will enhance the credibility and necessity of our profession to athletes, coaches and sports administrators.

Do you participate in any sport yourself?

My fitness goal this year is to undertake my first triathlon. Have the swimming component down pat, now it’s time to introduce the other two legs.

Which sportsperson (or team) do you admire the most and why?

Michael Voss (Previous players Brisbane Lions, now Senior Coach) is one of the most determined and focussed sportspersons I have met. Whilst always aiming for the best from his body and performance he is a great leader that shows the way for team mates through the example he sets. While aiming for perfection in himself he also demands this of others in the team, the coaches and support staff involved. He unfailingly considers the team in everything he does and he is also a great bloke!

Michelle Cort works as the Sports Dietitian for Cricket Australia, the Gold Coast AFL Club and is an AIS consultant for the AIS AFL and Cricket programs.  She does not currently work in private practice.

Updated January 2010