Why Being Overlooked Hurts

Reflections on Dietetics, identity and professional belonging.

There are moments in a profession's history that feel bigger than the event itself.

A funding announcement. A change in policy. A decision that overlooks Dietitians despite the complexity, responsibility and impact of our work. Being paid less than others delivering comparable care. Missing from conversations where our expertise could meaningfully contribute. These moments are frustrating in their own right, but they also seem to touch something much deeper. And before digging in, I want to clearly name that we are not alone in this….I’m definitely not saying that we are the only profession of people who feel this way, or that every Dietitian experiences these feelings. It’s just that enough of us do that it’s worthwhile becoming more curious about it.

Over the years, I have found myself wondering whether some of our collective response is not simply about what is happening now, but also about what has happened before.

Many Dietitians entered this profession because they care deeply about people. We are thoughtful, conscientious practitioners who are willing to work hard, often quietly, to improve the lives of others. Yet historically, ours has not always been a profession that has felt seen, heard or fully understood. There have been countless examples of our contribution being underestimated, our expertise reduced to simplistic messages about food, or our role positioned as somehow less essential than others within healthcare. We have often found ourselves needing to justify our place at the table rather than being assumed to belong there.

When experiences like this happen repeatedly, it becomes understandable that new disappointments rarely feel like isolated events. Instead, they can evoke a familiar story. Here we go again. We are being overlooked again. We are having to prove our worth again. There’s something about the again that hits in the soft spot.

Which has me reflecting on our professional experiences intersecting with something even more personal.

None of us arrives in our professional life as a blank slate. We all bring our histories with us. Some of us know what it feels like to have our needs overlooked, our voices dismissed, our perspectives minimised or our contributions taken for granted. We may have grown up needing to work hard to be noticed, to earn approval, or to keep the peace. Others may have experienced workplaces where speaking up was discouraged, we had to “agree to get on,” or where our ideas were repeatedly overlooked.

When our professional world mirrors those experiences, it is unsurprising that our reactions can feel bigger than the current situation alone. The present moment meets our past experiences, and together they create a powerful emotional response. That response is not a sign of weakness. It is often a sign that something important has been touched.

This is one of the reasons I believe our profession needs more than advocacy. We certainly need advocacy. We need equitable funding, fair remuneration, recognition of our expertise and strong representation. These are not optional extras; they matter enormously.

At the same time, we also need spaces where we can make sense of what these experiences evoke in us. We need opportunities to reflect on why particular events affect us so deeply, how our own histories shape our responses, and how we can remain connected to our values even when we feel disappointed or discouraged.

And if there’s one of many things my very first Supervisor taught me, it’s to look up and see the bigger context. Look for the connections, the systems, where we recognise the “family” beyond our family our origin. Who is leading? Whose voices are being heard? Whose (and what?) opinions, thoughts and feelings are taken seriously, are given space?

When children experience uncertainty, disappointment or injustice, they benefit from adults who are calm, honest and attentive. They need people who do not minimise their experience, but neither do they amplify fear. They need leaders (parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches and important adult others) who can acknowledge reality, offer comfort where it is possible, and help them make sense of what is happening.

Professions are not so different.

When members feel overlooked or devalued, they need leadership that is transparent, consistent and willing to have difficult conversations. They need to know that their concerns are heard, that someone is paying attention, and that there is a thoughtful path forward. This does not mean leaders can fix every structural problem. It does mean that they can help create the conditions in which people feel less alone.

I also think it is important to acknowledge that leadership evolves. While our profession has not always experienced the kind of advocacy or visibility many hoped for, I genuinely believe we are seeing something different emerge. There are leaders who are working tirelessly to strengthen the profession, increase our visibility and advocate for meaningful change. It is important that we recognise that.

The difficult reality is that change in the present does not immediately quell the stories we carry from the past. If our professional experience has repeatedly taught us to expect disappointment, our nervous systems can understandably anticipate more of the same, even when things are beginning to shift.

Which makes me wonder if part of our work, individually and collectively, is learning to hold both realities at once. We can acknowledge the very real inequities that still exist, while also allowing ourselves to notice where progress is happening. We can advocate strongly without becoming defined solely by what has gone wrong. We can honour the hurt without allowing it to become the only story we tell about who we are.

Because Dietetics is not just about a profession that has been overlooked. Importantly, it is also a profession filled with intelligent, compassionate people who continue to show up every day for others. Our future may depend not only on how loudly we advocate for our value, but also on how deeply we believe it ourselves.

I believe we need strong advocacy for our profession. We need fair funding, recognition and equitable remuneration. But I also think we need something else…. We need reflective spaces, supportive colleagues and leaders who are honest, attentive and willing to stand alongside us as we navigate these moments together.

Perhaps our task is to hold two truths at once.

To acknowledge the inequities that still exist, while also recognising the people who are working hard to create change. And to remember that the value of Dietetics, and Dietitians, has never depended solely on whether others have recognised it.

💙 Our work matters. And we matter. Find spaces and people that support you to really know it.

Resources:

Dietitian Supervision Resources Australia & International (DSRAi)