Master of Dietetics
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Studying a Master of Dietetics at Swinburne will empower you to make a positive impact on the health of Australians.
You will develop skills in both traditional and emerging areas of dietetic practice, learning to work with a range of evolving food and health management strategies.
Units cover a range of innovative topics including entrepreneurship, leadership and business, sports nutrition, and paediatric nutrition.
The course includes face-to-face lectures and tutorials, seminars, theoretical and practical coursework, kitchen workshops, online learning, and professional placement.
Due to limited capacity, students will be unable to defer their place in this course.
Duration
2 years full-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1) - View application and start dates
Study mode
- Full-time
2022 Start Dates
The future of dietetics
Think dietetics is just about your diet? Think again.
Three students from the tight-knit Master of Dietetics course share how Swinburne is getting them ready for the future of dietetics. Hint: it involves a non-diet approach, industry immersion, and rubbing shoulders with The Mindful Dietitian, and dietitians from Richmond and Hawthorn football clubs.
First graduates of the Master of Dietetics thrive in the workforce
Isabella, Stefania and Chloe are among the first cohort of students to graduate from Swinburne’s Master of Dietetics. All have landed positions in the dietetics industry, aided by the workplace experiences they had during their degree.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
Students will develop their skills in traditional areas of dietetic practice – clinical practice, community and public health nutrition and food service management – as well as the emerging and growing fields of entrepreneurship and private practice, research, nutrigenomics, aged care, corporate health, digital health, food sustainability and supply, food innovation and sport.
The structure of the Master of Dietetics aligns with the requirements set out by the Dietitians Australia. The course comprises 15 compulsory units of study – 11 theory-based units and four professional practice placement units.
Students will engage in a variety of learning experiences including Problem Based Learning; case studies; practical skill development using the teaching kitchen, food science laboratory and videoed consult rooms; and experience in real-world research.
Placements will take place in three required domains including clinical and individual case management, community and public health nutrition, and food service management.
Research projects will be undertaken to further enhance skill development and exposure to the evidence base in nutrition and dietetics.
Course structure
- 11 theory units of study (150 credit points)
- 4 Professional placement units of study (50 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Dietetics is 100 credit points (normally eight units)
Units of study
DET60003 Specialised Nutrition: Sport and Paediatrics
DET60004 Nutrition Practice in Diverse Communities
DET70001 Evidence Based Practice and Research Skills for Dietitians
DET70002 Professional Practice and Communication Skills for Dietitians
DET70003 Medical Nutrition Therapy
DET80001 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy and Food Service Management *
DET80002 Research Project 1
DET80005 Research Project 2 *
DET80006 Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Business Skills for Health Professionals *
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
- work effectively and ethically in a variety of workplace settings including: clinical, community and public health, food service management and be able to apply those skills to other settings including: private practice, sporting clubs, food industry, research and academia
- apply well developed independent research skills to critically review literature and undertake evidence based practice, including utilising strong theoretical knowledge of research methods, design and statistics and practical research experience
- undertake and document the nutrition care process for individuals, including nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention and monitoring/evaluation as applied to individuals, groups and/or populations, whilst applying knowledge of nutrition’s role in the prevention and management of disease states
- demonstrate high level communication skills, collaborate with clients, carers and health care teams; document appropriately to the discipline
- apply high level food skills and knowledge to evaluate product/food suitability and address nutrition and food related issues with both individual clients and in relation to products produced by the food industry
- engage in reflective practice to support own development, including acquisition of knowledge and skills related to own dietetic practice and career aspirations and be adaptable and able to manage change
- apply innovative problem solving skills and an entrepreneurial attitude and utilise appropriate technologies and digital health solutions to support and advance dietetic practice and contribute to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- demonstrate cultural awareness of local and international environments in which they will be engaged and recognise the importance of communicating in a culturally appropriate way.
Graduate skills
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work and community situations
- adaptable and able to manage change
- aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing.
Professional recognition
This program is currently provisionally accredited by the Dietitians Australia. A graduate of this program is eligible to become a full member of Dietitians Australia and to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program. The University is required to maintain a current accreditation status as outlined in the Dietitians Australia accreditation process available via dietitiansaustralia.org.au > Becoming a Dietitian in Australia > Accreditation of Dietetics Education Programs.
A graduate of a program accredited by the Dietitians Australia is eligible to become a Dietitians Australia member with dietetics qualifications, and to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program. APDs are required to undertake prescribed levels of professional development each year and comply with the Dietitians Australia Code of Professional Conduct and Statement of Ethical Practice. Eligibility for APD status, or current APD status is a prerequisite of many dietetic positions in Australia. APD status is required for a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs provider number and for provider status with many private health insurers.
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
Entry requirements
- they completed their degree in the last 10 years or
- have undertaken subsequent Postgraduate studies or
- have relevant work experience*
AND meet the following unit/subject pre-requisites (as required by the Dietitians Association of Australia Accreditation Standards for Dietetics Education Programs):
- Chemistry/Biochemistry, 4 units - including Chemistry (equivalent to 25% of a year study load) followed by Biochemistry (equivalent to 25% of a year study load);
- Human Biology and Human Physiology, 4 units - including Human Biology (equivalent to 25% of a year study load) followed by Human Physiology (equivalent to 25% of a year study load); and
- Food and Nutrition Science, 2 units (equivalent to 25% of a year study load).
Students who are otherwise eligible but are lacking a small number of pre-requisite units may be able to apply and receive a conditional offer subject to successful completion of the required pre-requisites. These must be completed before commencing the degree in Semester 1.
Special requirements
Students must provide an up to date record of all immunisations they have received over their lifetime, translated in English at the time of course commencement. For information on required vaccinations, please visit the Australian Government website.
At course commencement, the Faculty Immunisation form will require completion and signed by an Australian medical practitioner to ensure you are immunised according to the Vaccination for Healthcare Workers standards. Further information will be provided upon course commencement.
Additional immunisations may be required in response to any changes in Government policy or the specific requirements of the organisation you attend for your placements. Any required immunisations or serology tests would be at your own cost.
Police check
A Police check from your country of residence will be required at the time of course commencement.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
Overseas
If you have lived overseas for more than 12 months in the past ten years, you are required to provide a police check from each country you resided in (including an English translation) and/or a statutory declaration stating that you have never been convicted of any crime in another country.
Australia
You will be required to have an annual National Police Record Check to attend placements. Further information about how to apply will be provided at course commencement.
Working with Children Check – all applicants must maintain a current Working with Children Check throughout the duration of the program.
Professional placements
Placements can occur at any time during the course, including during the school holidays, Christmas and Easter holidays. Students need to be available to attend placements at all times during the course. It is advised that holidays are not booked prior to allocation of placements as alternative placements may not be available, therefore impeding progress in the course.
Detailed information will be provided to all students at the commencement of the course.
Additional costs
Uniform and equipment will be required to be purchased for use in class and placement.
Some placements will be undertaken in regional locations, students are responsible for costs incurred for travel and accommodation.