Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bronte Williamson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bronte, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Nourished Not Deprived emerged from humble beginnings in my parents’ garage, fuelled by little more than a laptop, a grand vision, and a very poor attempt at a Squarespace website.

Growing up as the only child of two partially disabled parents exposed me early on to the challenges of limited income, ongoing illness, and persistent pain. Coping with these circumstances led me down a personal journey with the eating disorder Bulimia Nervosa.

Unable to secure the necessary financial support for proper healthcare due to my BMI not meeting the required threshold, I took it upon myself to navigate the path to recovery until I could access professional services in my young adulthood.

Upon successfully overcoming these challenges, I committed to prevent others from facing similar hardships. Armed with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetic honours degree, Nourished Not Deprived came into existence, driven by a desire to extend support to both my family and the broader community.

We are a company driven by lived experience not only from myself, but from my staff also. Each member was strategically hired not only from their experience levels but also their strong ‘why’.

Bronte, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Bronte Williamson; I am 26 years old, a credentialed eating disorder Dietitian and the proud founder and Managing Director of Nourished Not Deprived, an Australia-wide mental health and nutrition-focused Allied Health organisation.

Growing up on the central coast of NSW, I was raised in a household where my parents, both amazing people. were grappling with disabilities, navigated the daily hurdles of limited income and ongoing health concerns. Living in this environment, I became intimately familiar with the realities of financial strain and the toll that persistent health issues can take on a family. While these circumstances were undoubtedly challenging, they also instilled in me a resilience and determination to overcome adversity, and are why I am doing what I am doing today; for that, I am grateful.

As developed, I found myself wrestling with my battles, one of which was my struggle with Bulimia Nervosa. Reflecting on my upbringing, I realise that my coping mechanisms and responses to the stressors around me may have contributed to the development of this eating disorder.

Unable to secure the necessary financial support for proper healthcare due to my BMI not meeting the required threshold, I took it upon myself to navigate the path to recovery until I could access professional services in my young adulthood. Despite my difficulties, I am grateful for the lessons learned and the strength gained from navigating these early challenges, although I do not wish the same path for others, hence the development of Nourished Not Deprived.

After overcoming these hurdles, I solemnly committed to spare others from similar struggles. With a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetic Honours degree in hand in 2018, I founded Nourished Not Deprived, driven by a deep-seated desire to offer comfort not only to my loved ones but also to the broader community struggling with… well anything I could fix.

Nourished’s inception wasn’t part of some grand plan. I didn’t set out with ambitions of becoming a high-flying entrepreneur. Instead, I am fixed on addressing the evident gaps in allied healthcare accessibility. Maybe Nourished stemmed from past traumas, but it’s turned out to be pretty helpful none-the-less.

What began as a small-scale initiative in nutrition and dietetics has evolved into something beyond my imagination. Today, Nourished provides a comprehensive range of services, including psychology, mental health occupational therapy, speech pathology, and counselling, catering to individuals under various healthcare schemes including the NDIS and private consultations. We can support the community across the lifespan, from mild to highly complex mental and psychosocial presentations, with trauma informed and deaf awareness trained practitioners, who are neuro-affirming in nature and hold 3+ years of experience in their chosen niche, we can provide support to so many. And the best part? We’ve embraced telehealth, refining our approach with increasing engagement and endurance in this sector, making care more accessible than ever before. With flexible scheduling, bulk billing options, and minimal waitlists, we ensure our community get the support they need, when they need it. Additionally, our patient-to-practitioner matching option ensures that referrals are matched with the most suitable practitioner who has experience in addressing their specific needs and presentation.

But what truly makes us stand out—and fills me with pride—is our exceptional team of healthcare professionals. They’re not just experts; they’re compassionate individuals dedicated to making a genuine difference. It’s been an honour to grow alongside them, and to watch the care they take with every client.

At Nourished, our mission goes beyond simply providing services; it’s about fostering a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported. From the moment our clients connect with us, they’re met with empathy and understanding—a culture that permeates every aspect of our work. And that’s what makes Nourished Not Deprived more than just a business; it’s a beacon of hope and healing in a world that needs it most.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

The approach to team management and positive culture development can indeed vary across industries with certain nuances, but fundamental principles remain consistent in all business development strategies.

Regardless of the context, it’s crucial for team members to feel acknowledged, valued, engaged, and provided opportunities for personal growth tailored to their individual needs and aspirations. This necessitates developing a deeper, more intimate understanding of each team member beyond the initial hiring process and assuming their goals = your goals as a company. What makes your staff tick, feel engaged, and why should they continue to invest in your company? You should know the answer to these questions, and the answer is not ‘because our business is the best’, the answer should be explaining why your company is the best investment for THEM and how it will serve them. Their lives should be, and are appropriately more important than your company, so why should they work with you? These are questions you need to continuously ask yourself.

The dynamic between employer and employee mirrors that of any relationship, requiring mutual respect, reciprocity, and a beneficial exchange of value. It’s a misconception to view the transaction solely in monetary terms; for many, work comprises a significant aspect of life where they seek connection, recognition, and a sense of belonging. Simply compensating employees without considering their developmental needs within the team can lead to disengagement and dissatisfaction. Concurrently, consider, do you know how to provide recognition in the way your employee feels seen for their efforts? Similar to the concept of love languages… some feel recognised by words, others by gifts, others by title increase, and others by pay rises. In your onboarding, these factors should be identified, you should know what your team needs to feel good about the work they are doing.

Effective management starts from the outset, beginning with the recruitment phase. Questions should assess not only technical skills but also conflict resolution abilities, learning styles, and task comprehension. Assuming tasks to be straightforward without providing adequate guidance can hinder employee performance and contribute to managerial challenges down the line. I see many managers and business owners ‘assume’ that staff should ‘just know how to do something, it’s simple’. But I prefer to take the standpoint that nothing is simple, and everything should be taught and explained, in a way that is digestible for that particular staff member.

From how to answer the phone, the tone of voice of the phone call, to the way someone collects information and passes it on to the appropriate body, to who the appropriate body is in certain scenarios to what to do in an emergency. The effective running of a company is so very complex, and so the small tasks, unless explained, in a way that is understandable to the individual, can seemingly become complex and overwhelming, and so it should, if not explained properly and respectfully.

High morale, is attained when you respect the differences and nuances of the way someone works, learns and lives. If you cannot do that for each of your staff, and if they cannot return the favour, positive team culture will not be formed.’’

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I suppose my story of attempting to put myself through eating disorder recovery and then creating Nourished is a story of resilience, shared on the previous page. :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nourishednotdeprived.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nourishednotdeprived/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nourishednotdeprived/
• Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/company/nourished-not-deprived