What does the future hold for the Nutrition and Dietetics profession?

Caring Futures Institute researchers have helped determine priorities set to shape the education, research and workforce needs of the Nutrition and Dietetics profession into the future.

Professor John Coveney was among 68 professionals who contributed to an exploratory qualitative study, helping inform the “Towards 2030 – Reimagining the Future of Nutrition and Dietetics in Australia and New Zealand” report.

Published by the Council of Deans of Nutrition and Dietetics Australia and New Zealand, the report highlights the ways qualified nutrition professionals will cater to increasingly diverse needs within the sector.

Researchers were keen to ascertain where professionals are likely to work in years to come and what is needed to produce an agile, impactful workforce.

Interviewees had experience in a diverse range of areas, with everything from elite sports nutrition to mental health experts represented.

Professor Rebecca Golley represents Flinders University on the Council.

“Diet is key to lifelong health and wellbeing,” she says.

“This seminal report outlines the workforce of the future capable of tackling global challenges to human and planetary health.”

Professor Rebecca Golley

Six emerging roles, sixteen critical capabilities and five actions were identified, with the aim of enhancing and strengthening the profession.

“Roles such as ‘Nutrition knowledge translators’, ‘Equity champions’ or ‘Diet optimizers for an ageing population’ outlined in the report align with the education and research offering here at Flinders,” says Professor Golley.

The Council argues the report is a call to stakeholders from within and outside the profession, to ensure that a skilled workforce is available everywhere it’s needed.

The research aligns with the Council’s mission of ensuring that the skilled nutrition and dietetics graduates and the resulting professional workforce continues to expand into the key roles where they are most needed for human and planetary health, now and into the future.

The report can be accessed here.

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