Overview

This unit will prepare students for professional practice in dietetics. It will focus on building the foundation for competent practice, including: communication and counselling skills, the nutrition care process, nutrition assessment and nutrition diagnosis and self-reflection. It will also provide students with an understanding of the scope of practice, attitudes, skills and behaviour required of healthcare professionals in relation to patients, the public and fellow professionals as well as the National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia.

Requisites

Prerequisites
DET70002 Nutrition Assessment and Education

Rules

Pre-requisite
50 cp in 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 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Document and apply the nutrition care process for individuals, including nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention and monitoring/evaluation as applied to individuals, groups and/or populations
  • Collect and interpret relevant food and nutrition related history of individuals
  • Conduct and apply basic anthropometry measurements to known reference ranges
  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of commonly used anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary assessment tools
  • Utilise counselling skills as applied to dietetic case management in both one-on-one and group sessions, and self-reflect on performance
  • Translate nutrition scientific knowledge and principles in practical information for individuals, the general public and other health professionals
  • Demonstrate the attitudes, skills and behaviour required of healthcare professionals in relation to patients, the public and fellow professionals

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

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

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1Individual 30% 1,6 
Assignment 2Individual 50% 1,2,4,6 
Practical ExaminationIndividual 0% 1,2,3,5,7 
e-PortfolioIndividual 20% 5,7 
Assignment 1Individual 30% 1,5,6,7 
Assignment 2Individual 20% 
Practical ExaminationIndividual 40% 1,2,3,5,6,7 
e-PortfolioIndividual 10% 4,5,7 

Content

  • Nutrition Care Process including International Dietetic and Nutrition Terminology
  • Dietary assessment tools and methodology
  • Nutrition assessment tools and practice
  • Anthropometric measures used in dietetic practice
  • Communication and counselling skills for behaviour change at the individual or group levels
  • Dietetic scope of practice and professional skills
  • National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia
  • Reflective practice skills
  • Self-care

Study resources

Reading materials

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