Overview

This unit will build on students’ skills and knowledge in public health and community nutrition with a specific focus on the role of nutritionists/dietitians working with diverse communities including multicultural groups, indigenous populations and international groups/programs. Students will critically examine the evidence for, and implementation of, national nutritional policies and strategies aimed at improving population health and develop skills required for practice in community and public health nutrition including: needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of culturally appropriate nutrition-related health programs as well as advocacy.

Requisites

Prerequisites
DET60004 Community and Public Health Nutrition

Rule

Admission into MA-DIET - Master of Dietetics

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Analyse the social, cultural and environmental factors which influence food choice and health outcomes related to dietary behaviour
  • Outline the social, ethical, political and economic considerations involved in promoting dietary change at the individual and population level
  • Evaluate policies and related strategies/initiatives aimed at improving health and nutritional status of communities
  • Analyse the program development cycle of community nutrition program planning and define the: needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation process of nutrition related health programs
  • Produce a grant application proposing a detailed program plan aiming to impact on the nutritional status and health of a community group and advocating on their behalf
  • Deliver a culturally appropriate health promotion presentation/activity

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class
3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various
3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Various
5.50 12 weeks 66
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 20% 1,2,4,5 
PresentationIndividual 40% 
Project ReportIndividual 40% 3,4 
Online Discussion ThreadsIndividual 10% 1,2,3,4 
Pitch PresentationsIndividual 30% 1,2,3,4,5 
PresentationIndividual/Group 20% 1,2,3,4,6 
Project ReportIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Role of dietitians working with diverse communities
  • Principles of health promotion
  • Indigenous health
  • Successful program development & management
  • Running health promotion initiatives
  • Factors affecting attitudes to food and health
  • Influences on food choice, influence of cultural background on food choice and influence of cultural issues on food choice
  • Nutrition problems in Australian communities and in developing countries.
  • Ecological issues of food supply and food policy
  • Federal and state health policy (Nutrition/Health)
  • Social institutions and social norms
  • Equity and equality
  • Nutrition program development and management.

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.