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DET504 - Nutrition and Dietetic Counselling

2026

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Nutrition & Dietetics

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

Prerequisites

Must have passed 2 units in (DET501, NUT502)

Incompatible

Coerequisites

Must be enrolled in course version {SDIET1}

Assumed Knowledge

Unit Description

Students develop communication and counselling skills required to support nutrition-related behavioural change in individual and group settings. Students will apply techniques for interviewing, counselling, and group education, including the use of interpreters, along with technology and digital health innovations to support behavioural change. This unit will explore telecommunication technologies (telehealth) to support clinical long-distance health care, patient and professional education and nonclinical applications including meetings, educational sessions, forums, case conferencing and mentoring. Communication and complexity of working within culturally-diverse communities and multi-disciplinary professional teams will also be addressed.

Important Information

This unit includes a 5-day compulsory intensive at CDU Casuarina campus at the end of the Semester.

The unit will include one day work observation in a dietetics workplace.

This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Dietetics (SDIET1)

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Review the major concepts and theories of behavioural change in relation to food choice and eating practices.
2.	Reflect critically on strategies, skills, and techniques for effective nutrition communication with individuals and groups with consideration for nutrition literacy and cultural responsiveness.
3.	Apply client and family-centred counselling skills to facilitate nutrition and lifestyle change and support self-management.
4.	Develop and communicate nutrition care plans in collaboration with clients, families and members of the health care team.
5.	Understand efficient, culturally safe use of telehealth to implement the nutrition care process with clients at remote, rural or offsite locations.
6.	Demonstrate effective, ethical and professional communication with all stakeholders.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Case study - Part A: Theoretical summary (250 words)	5%	1,3,6
2.	Case study - Part B: Application (750 words)	15%	1,2,3,5
3.	Critical Reflection (1500 words)	30%	1,2,3
4.	Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (1.5 hours) (Hurdle)	40%	1,2,3,4,5,6
5.	Peer Review (500 words) (Hurdle)	10%	1,2,3,4,5,6

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2026	Semester 1	Internal	Casuarina Campus	ITV,OLR	View
2026	Semester 1	External	External Studies	ITV,OLR	View

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ITV: This unit will be delivered/part-delivered intensively in this teaching period rather than over the full semester.

OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
Fees and Payments
Student Services and Amenities Fees
2026 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)
2026 Incidental Fees (PDF)