12 points, SCA Band 2, 0.250 EFTSL
Postgraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit is predominantly a fieldwork experience that will challenge students to integrate their academic training and to synthesise knowledge into a practical public health nutrition project based in the community setting. The unit requires students to manage a project that addresses a public health nutrition issue. Students will participate in program planning within a work environment and provide tangible benefit to their participating organisation. Students will be responsible for designing a project, collection and analysis of data and synthesis of findings into a report. Principles of information evaluation, workload management, communication, teamwork and responsibility for project management will also be developed.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Apply the social, environmental, economic and political determinants of nutrition status to a priority public health nutrition area.
- Plan, implement and evaluate systems based, population health approaches and solutions to priority nutrition issues.
- Apply the research process using appropriate methods of collection and analysis for both qualitative and quantitative data.
- Contribute to an evidence-based, population approach to improve population nutrition health in a community setting.
- Advocate for policy change to benefit health and nutrition outcomes for populations.
- Employ critical and scientific writing and communication skills to document and report findings of project in professional and scientific fora.
- Practice professional leadership to promote the role of nutrition.
- Establish effective working partnerships, networks, collaborations with a range of team members and stakeholders.
- Adopt a questioning and critical approach in all aspects of practice and evaluate practice on an on-going basis.
Fieldwork
30-38 hours per week for 7 weeks plus an additional 2 days site/project orientation.
Assessment
- Project proposal (20%)
- Project report (30%) (includes peer review weighting)
- Project oral presentation (10%)
- Standardised oral exam (30%) (Hurdle)
- Competency portfolio (10%) (Hurdle)
Hurdle Requirement: Much of the assessment in this unit provides evidence of achievement towards the Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia.
Achievement of competence is an accreditation requirement and thus these tasks have been made hurdles.
Workload requirements
300 hours practical placement 7 weeks equivalent.
See also Unit timetable information