Master of Dietetics - 2018

Postgraduate - Course

Commencement year

This course entry applies to students commencing this course in 2018 and should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Other commencement years for this course: 2017, 2016 and 2015

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Course code

M6002

Credit points

96

Abbreviated title

MDiet

CRICOS code

084910M

Managing faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Coordinator

Ms Evelyn Volders

Contact details

School of Clinical Sciences: telephone +61 3 9902 4270;email nutrition.dietetics@monash.edu or visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/nutrition-dietetics

Admission and fees

Australia

Course progression map

M6002 (pdf)

Course type

Specialist
Master by coursework

Standard duration

2 years FT

Full-time study only.

This course normally takes 2 years full-time to complete but if you have relevant entry qualifications you may receive credit and be able to complete the course in 1.5 years full-time.

Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete this course including any periods of intermission and suspension, and must be continuously enrolled throughout.

Mode and location

On-campus (Clayton)

Students are required to undertake off-campus placements.

Award

Master of Dietetics

Description

This postgraduate course aims to prepare graduates with the professional and personal qualities required for future dietetic practice in a variety of workplace settings. The course integrates academic teaching and learning with clinical, population health, food service, research and management experience and is undertaken in both academic and professional practice placement settings (e. g. clinical, food service, community nutrition and public health nutrition).

The course is designed around four study themes:

  • Personal development and professional practice
  • Determinants and influences of public health and nutrition
  • Nutrition fundamentals of health and disease
  • Food: From science to systems.

Applied and practical learning experiences will traverse all themes to support the integrated approach to the teaching and learning of this course. The development of skills and knowledge in research relevant and/or applied to nutrition and dietetic practice will underpin each of the four core themes of the program.

This coursework-only masters degree includes opportunities to develop research skills and offers a potential pathway to higher degrees by research.

Outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.%20monash.%20edu.%20au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.%20html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. fulfil the National Competency Standards for Entry Level Dietitians as defined by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) 2015
  2. maintain professional and ethical conduct as outlined in the DAA Code of Professional Conduct and accept responsibility and practise in a safe and ethical manner
  3. be skilled human nutrition scientists innovative in their approach to analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation
  4. understand the associations between nutrition and health and nutrition and disease and integrate and apply this to the practice of nutrition and dietetics
  5. value research and be skilled at accessing, critically appraising and applying the best available evidence to everyday practice
  6. communicate effectively and efficiently with other peers, professionals, clients and the public and work collaboratively in a range of settings
  7. advocate on behalf of individuals, groups and the profession influencing the wider environment about factors which affect eating behaviour, health and nutrition standards
  8. demonstrate awareness of the social, ethical,cultural, economic, political and environmental context of food and eating, nutrition, health and illness and psychological wellbeing, and delivery of care
  9. integrate knowledge of relevant public policy and health and social care systems into practice
  10. integrate advanced food knowledge and food skills into professional practice
  11. maintain high standards in professional life through a commitment to lifelong learning and excellence of practice.

Special requirements

Students must refer to the information available on the special requirements outlined below. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the correct documentation.

Police checks

Students must have a current Police check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's police checkspolice checks (http://www.%20med.%20monash.%20edu.%20au/current/police-checks.%20html) webpage.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's Working with Children checksWorking with Children checks (http://www.%20med.%20monash.%20edu.%20au/current/wwc-check.%20html) webpage.

Immunisation and infection procedures

In accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations, this course requires that students comply with the faculty's Immunisation and vaccination policy and proceduresImmunisation and vaccination policy and procedures (http://www.%20med.%20monash.%20edu.%20au/current/immunisation/). These are designed to provide maximum protection against the increased risk of some vaccine preventable diseases for students, patients and workers in a health care setting.

This policy, and the associated procedures require that students have certain specified vaccinations, and have their blood borne virus status determined, before they commence a clinical placement. Students who have not complied with this policy may not be able to undertake clinical placement, with the attendant academic consequences.

Prospective students are provided detailed information on the effect of blood borne virus infection on the scope of practice of health care workers. Students who test positive to a blood borne virus (including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) will be required to consult a specialist medical practitioner approved by the faculty to provide advice on any necessary restrictions on work practices to protect patients and others from infection.

Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working in teaching hospitals and professional placement sites and for protection of other students and themselves, students in this course need to comply with certain precautionary procedures. These consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and having x-rays where the evidence indicates these are appropriate and there are no specific contraindications in individual cases.

Prospective students should note that on enrolment, students are provided with detailed written information and, as appropriate, counselling about the effect that HIV or hepatitis B infection may have on the ability of health care workers to practise their profession. Additional information is provided to students in their third year when they are in contact with patients as part of their clinical studies.

Fieldwork

Professional practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus supervised practice placements. In the practice setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the practice component of each unit. Placement may occur in metropolitan or rural settings.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the placement component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a practicum if required skills, knowledge and professional behaviour are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during practice placements.

Professional recognition

This course fulfils the requirements of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) for entry level competencies and has received Provisional Accreditation.

Graduates are eligible to become members of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program.

Structure

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Foundational studies for dietetics, Part B. Evidence based dietetics, planning and treatment and Part C. Dietetic practice. All students complete Parts B and C. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundational studies for dietetics

These studies will provide you with an orientation to dietetics at the advanced undergraduate and early graduate level. You will examine the nutrition and food science underpinning dietetics, consider population health in the context of nutrition and the Australian food supply, explore health behaviours and cultural competency, assessment of nutritional status, and the role of diet in the causation and treatment of chronic diseases that are endemic in westernised societies. These studies are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in nutrition science.

Part B. Evidence based dietetics, planning and treatment

These studies will provide you with the core knowledge and professional skills relevant to thoughtful, innovative and evidence-based dietetic practice and for accreditation with the Dietitian Association of Australia. You will learn about a range of clinical conditions and diseases and develop skill in dietetic education and case management with a focus on person-centred care. This will include an understanding of issues relating to healthcare systems, services, management, ethics and quality improvement.

Part C. Dietetic practice

These studies will enable you to connect the theoretical components of your course with the practical aspects of dietetics practice including under the valuable guidance of practitioners. Your research skills, dietetics knowledge and professional practice skills will be extended in practice contexts in preparation for entering the workforce.

Requirements

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Nutrition science studies (24 points), Part B. Evidence based dietetics, planning and treatment (48 points) and Part C. Dietetic practice (24 points).

  • Students admitted at Entry level 1 complete 96 points, comprising Part A, B and C.
  • Students admitted at Entry level 2 complete 72 points, comprising Part B and C.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2018handbooks/maps/map-m6002.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Part A. Foundational studies for dietetics (24 points)

Students complete:

  • NUT4001 Foundations of dietetic practice
  • NUT3002 Diet, activity and health in chronic diseases (6 points)
  • NUT3082 Public health nutrition (6 points)

Part B. Evidence based dietetics, planning and treatment (48 points)

Students complete:

  • NUT5001 Introduction to dietetic skills
  • NUT5002 Practice and research in public health nutrition
  • NUT5004 Food for dietetic practice
  • NUT5006 Practice and research in dietetics

Part C. Dietetic practice (24 points)

Students complete:

Alternative exits

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master's course.

  • Graduate Diploma of Health Studies after successful completion of 48 credit

points of which 36 must be at level 4 or higher

Progression to further studies

This course provides a pathway to higher degrees by research.