Is nutrition and dietetics for you?

If you are interested in food, nutrition and health, enjoy communicating with people and have an aptitude for science, an exciting future lies ahead when you become an accredited practising dietitian. Read more ...

Hands-on

Professional practice is a vital component of the program and students complete a substantial number of supervised professional practice hours in a variety of hospitals, community health centres, businesses and food service settings across NSW and interstate. Read more ...

Careers

Dietitians experience contact with many people from different walks of life including individuals accessing the healthcare system in public and private hospitals. Read more ...

Is nutrition and dietetics for you?

If you are interested in food, nutrition and health, enjoy communicating with people and have an aptitude for science, an exciting future lies ahead when you become an accredited practising dietitian.

What is nutrition and dietetics?

Nutrition and dietetics is the art of applying the science of human nutrition to help people understand the food and health relationships in their life. Dietitians have the opportunity to work with people of all ages within many settings, public and private. As a result of seeing a dietitian, many people gain the knowledge they need to make good food and health choices in order to live a more successful life. As a community or public health dietitian, you have the ability to contribute to the health of populations and the sustainability of the environment.

What you will study?

This degree develops problem-solving and communication skills with studies in food, nutrition and dietetics, basic and applied sciences and social sciences and professional practice. Our courses combine theoretical, scientific knowledge with practical learning, to ensure that you will be prepared to enter a successful career. Nutrition and dietetics is offered at the Newcastle campus at Callaghan over four years, full-time study, which includes a substantial number of professional practice hours and problem-based learning.

You will study:

• food
• nutrition and dietetics
• basic and applied science
• social sciences.

You will also have the chance to study electives according to your area of interest, such as sports nutrition. An embedded Honours program is available in the fourth year of study for students achieving a sufficiently high grade point average in the first three years of the degree.

Why study with us?

Your qualification will be recognised at a national and international level, and our degree is accredited with the Dietitians Association of Australia. There is a strong emphasis on practical experience to ensure that you are well equipped with the skills necessary to begin your career. In your final year, you will spend most of your time off-campus and study a variety of electives according to your area of interest.

Hands-on

Professional practice is a vital component of the degree. You will complete a substantial number of supervised professional practice hours in a variety of hospitals, community health centres, businesses and food service settings across NSW and interstate. Year 4 is predominantly spent off-campus, and coursework is flexibly delivered.

You will experience a variety of professional practice settings, such as hospitals, community health and food services settings, where you will have the opportunity to practice and apply skills gained from your strong foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes. Professional practice settings may be anywhere in NSW, with at least one fieldwork placement in a rural area coordinated through the University Department of Rural Health.

Graduating with Honours

With increasing competition in all sectors of employment, students who graduate with Honours have a distinct advantage. It is often considered by employers as an added skill and has been used by previous graduates to pursue higher positions and salaries. You can develop and carry out research on a topic of interest, potentially leading to further academic study such as a PhD.

The Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics provides an embedded Honours stream of study. If your Research Project outcomes meet a sufficient standard, your degree may be awarded with Honours.

Calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA).

Careers

Dietitians are employed in a variety of settings.

• Clinical dietitians focus on medical nutrition therapy for individuals
• Community and public health dietitians and nutritionists work in multidisciplinary teams focusing on the assessment of community nutrition needs, health promotion and the development of nutrition policies and education programs
• Food service managers are based in hospitals, nursing homes and private practice, focussing on quality food production, food delivery systems and management
• Private practice dietitians provide dietary counselling direct to the public and is a growth sector of the profession.
• Other areas include sports nutrition, management, marketing and public relations

Dietitians experience contact with many people from different walks of life including individuals accessing the healthcare system in public and private hospitals, children in schools, whole communities, sports professionals, and professionals in the health and corporate sector. You need excellent communication skills to establish rapport with clients and co-workers in your field.

Be recognised

We offer an innovative degree that develops problem-solving and communication skills with studies in food, nutrition and dietetics, basic and applied sciences, and social sciences. You will start professional placement at an earlier stage than other dietetics degrees in Australia, with placement in second, third and fourth years of the degree. Your qualification will be recognised at a national and international level, graduates are eligible for Accredited Practising Dietitian status as well as membership of the Dietitians Association of Australia, the Public Health Association, Sports Medicine Australia, the Nutrition Society and other bodies.

Travel abroad

You may also have the opportunity to take your completed degree overseas. Australian qualifications in dietetics are regarded very highly and you may be well on the way to fast-tracking your career abroad.

Overall, study with us will offer you the prospect of developing communication and problem-solving skills, integrating these with a sound knowledge of food, nutrition and dietetics which will prepare you for the professional world.

Achiever profiles