Course Outline
NUT361 Counselling and Communication Skills for Dietetics
Course Coordinator:Nicole Scannell (nscannell@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nutrition and Dietetics
2024Semester 2
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
This course is designed to develop your ability to effectively manage individual clients in a nutrition and dietetics setting through providing you with a broad array of skills and knowledge related to health-related behaviour change, counselling and communication techniques and skills that are safe and culturally responsive. Emphasis will be placed on integrating theory into practice, and provide you with opportunities to develop your communication and counselling skills as part of the provision of nutrition therapy to an individual.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-campus attendance. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Learning materials – Asynchronised pre-class activities. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Fieldwork – Dietetic clinic visit | 2hrs | Week 1 | Once Only |
Course Topics
- Adult learning and behaviour modification theory
- Culturally appropriate and person-centred nutrition education and goal setting
- Effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills to
- Nutrition counselling skills to facilitate eating behaviour change and support maintenance of eating behaviour change.
- The dietetic interview
What level is this course?
300 Level (Graduate)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Demonstrate culturally appropriate, safe and sensitive communication that facilitates trust and builds a respectful professional relationship with a client. | Empowered |
| 2 | Analyse and apply the principles of adult learning theory and behaviour modification theory to facilitate lifestyle behaviour change whilst recognising determinants influencing health outcomes of an individual. |
Empowered Sustainability-focussed |
| 3 | Apply knowledge of nutrition science, behavioural science, health and disease, and food preparation methods to construct tailored nutrition education and dietary strategies for an individual. | Creative and critical thinker |
| 4 | Demonstrate professional conduct and duty of care through delivery of relevant and appropriate care according to acceptable nutrition care protocols. |
Creative and critical thinker Ethical Engaged |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
NUT351 and enrolled in Program SC406 or SC302
Co-requisites
NUT302
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Knowledge on the nutrition therapy of chronic disease
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Early feedback on your progress will be provided in Week 4 through in-class peer feedback to your counselling and communication skills in preparation for Assessment Tasks 1b and 3. In class activities and role play throughout the semester will provide opportunity for feedback to implement in Tasks 2 and 3.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1a | Activity Participation | Individual | 0% | 15 minute oral task. |
Week 4 | In Class |
| All | 1b | Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece | Individual | 30% | 7-minute video and 1000 word written report |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Artefact - Creative, and Oral | Individual | 20% | 7 minutes |
Week 11 | Online Submission |
| All | 3a | Activity Participation | Individual | 0% | 2hr |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3b | Oral | Individual | 50% | 30 minute Oral dietetic interview. |
Exam Period | In Class |
| All - Assessment Task 1a:Counselling skills | |
| Goal: | To demonstrate your counselling and communication skills to facilitate behaviour change. |
| Product: | Activity Participation |
| Format: | You will demonstrate your communication and counselling skills in a class activity. During this activity you will be required to display active listening skills including paraphrasing and empathy. You will also have to demonstrate your ability to identify enablers and barriers to a nutrition-related behaviour. |
| Criteria: |
|
| All - Assessment Task 1b:Behaviour modification plan | |
| Goal: | To demonstrate your ability to facilitate behaviour change through the use of counselling and communication skills and the application of relevant adult learning and behaviour modification theory. |
| Product: | Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece |
| Format: | You will apply learnings from course content to a peer by analysing the individual's health behaviour information, needs and beliefs and develop an individualised behaviour modification plan using best evidence and theory. |
| Criteria: |
|
| All - Assessment Task 2:Nutrition education | |
| Goal: | To demonstrate your nutrition education skills through the delivery of a diet-disease relationship explanation to a peer. |
| Product: | Artefact - Creative, and Oral |
| Format: | You will be required to deliver a diet-disease relationship explanation to a peer. Find task instructions on Canvas for more information. |
| Criteria: |
|
| All - Assessment Task 3a:Dietetic clinic visit | |
| Goal: | To develop confidence in gathering nutrition assessment information from a real client. |
| Product: | Activity Participation |
| Format: | You will attend the UniSC dietetic clinic and gather nutrition information from a real client as well as observe goal setting and development of SMART strategies with a real client. |
| Criteria: |
|
| All - Assessment Task 3b:Dietetic Interview | |
| Goal: | To demonstrate your ability to provide nutrition education and nutrition care using appropriate client-centred communication and counselling skills in a timely manner. |
| Product: | Oral |
| Format: | You will conduct a simulated dietetic interview and demonstrate your nutrition education, goal setting, counselling and communication skills to provide appropriate client-centred nutrition care. |
| Criteria: |
|
Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Kathleen D. Bauer,Doreen Liou | 2020 | Nutrition Counseling and Education Skill Development | 4 | Cengage Learning |
Specific requirements
Nil
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
SafeUniSC
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
Study help
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Wellbeing Services
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
AccessAbility Services
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
-
In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au