MARTINELLA, Belinda
Degree
Bachelor of Arts - Music Theatre (University of Ballarat)
Bachelor of Health Science - Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine
(Endeavour College)
Graduation year
2007 (University of Ballarat)
Current position
Clinical Nutritionist & Nutritional Counsellor
Employer
The Travelling Nutritionist Australia
www.thetravellingnutritionistaustralia.com
What are some of your career highlights?
Upon graduating from the Arts Academy in 2007, I toured nationally (Aus) and performed with Alpha Shows, became a voice-over artist and recorded ads and worked in radio (Melbourne & Bendigo), travelled to New York (USA) and worked as a dance teacher and choreographer at French Woods, was a featured extra in Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away and became the lead singer of the iconic rock-band Black Betty.
I then embarked on a new journey and became a Clinical Nutritionist and Nutritional Counsellor. I am the director of The Travelling Nutritionist Australia, author of the eBook F.A.D – F*ck All Diets, host and creator of the Podcast Need to Know Nutrition and have most recently been featured in the national health magazine The Art of Healing (Autumn edition 2024).
Describe the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of your job
I deliver nutrition, sports nutrition and wellbeing workshops and seminars to both primary and high school students (my programs run in line with the current Australian Curriculum) as well as corporate organisations, sporting clubs/teams, performing artists and community groups.
I also run a private clinic where I work 1:1 with a range of clients both face-to-face and remotely.
I really enjoy the travelling aspect of my job as I get to see so much of rural and regional Australia while meeting and helping so many different types people.
I also have 3 small children so I think I’d have to say that ‘balance’ can sometimes be a challenging aspect of my job.
What are your strongest memories while you were studying at Federation University Australia?
The fact that I was able to dance and sing every day for 3 years– I look back now and think how lucky I was to be able to do that. I met some amazing people and to this day, remain great friends and keep in touch with a lot of my graduating classmates.
I also have this one memory that’s stuck with me to this day: during my second year of study our dance teacher at the time Mr David Wynen handed me a book about choreography telling me that I showed some potential in this area. Rather than being grateful for his trained-eye and insight, I remember feeling deeply offended as I automatically assumed that he didn’t think that I ‘have what it takes’ to make it in the industry. If I could pop back to that moment and offer myself some advice it would be this: ‘take the book, read it and be excited at the prospect of adding yet another feather to your performing cap’.
Overall, my 3 years at the Arts Academy were fun, emotional, energising, exhausting, exciting- it’s a character-building experience that I wouldn’t change for the world!
In fact, the performance foundation that I gained at the Arts Academy is what has supported me in my current profession. Without it, there’s no way that I’d be able to stand up in front of hundreds of people and deliver workshops/seminars as confidently as I do.
Do you have any advice about life after study to pass on to current students?
Just go for it! As corny as that sounds, I couldn’t be more sincere. Whatever you want to be, whatever it is that you want to do, grab it with both hands and do everything you can to make it happen. Don’t let anyone stop you or tell you otherwise – you are in complete control of your future so have fun, be confident and really go for it.
Surround yourself with nurturing, wholesome people who encourage and support you in everything you do.