Master of Dietetics - 2019

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.

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 you 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.

Professional practice units

This course requires you to undertake off-campus supervised practice placements. In the practice setting you 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 your skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the placement component of the unit will be denied. You 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.

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

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

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

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.

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).

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

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete the higher credit-point option.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/maps/map-m6002.pdf) provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Part A. Foundational studies for dietetics (24 points)

You must 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)

You must 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)

You must complete:

• NUT5003 Dietetic practice 1
• NUT5005 Dietetic practice 2

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your 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

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to higher degrees by research.