Course Outline

NUT600 Dietary Planning and Counselling

Course Coordinator:Hester Wright (hwright@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nutrition and Dietetics

2025Semester 1

UniSC Moreton Bay

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 not offered until Semester 1, 2025.
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 the development of nutrition care plans for individuals, health-related behaviour change, counselling and communication techniques and skills. 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
Learning materials – A combination of pre-recorded videos, readings and associated activities 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online applied activities 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – On-campus workshop application of skills. 3hrs Week 4 3 times

Course Topics

  • Behaviour modification theory and practice for dietitians
  • Patient-centred nutrition education
  • Communication and counselling skills for dietitians
  • Individualised nutrition care for people with nutrition-related disease or disorders

What level is this course?

600 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

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 Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Dietitians Australia
1 Apply evidenced-based practice when providing nutrition care with the Nutrition Care Process model to individuals. Knowledgeable
2.1
2 Design nutrition care plans that are culturally safe, patient-centred and prioritised based on presenting nutritional issues. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
1.5, 2.2
3 Apply and critique the principles of behaviour modification theory to facilitate nutrition and lifestyle behaviour change whilst recognising determinants influencing health. Engaged
2.3, 4.1, 4.2
4 Execute client-centred counselling and education skills to support and facilitate nutrition and lifestyle behaviour change and empower self-management. Empowered
2.2, 4.1, 4.2

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Dietitians Australia
1.5 Professional Practice: Demonstrates cultural safety and responsiveness
2.1 Expert Practice: Adopts an evidence-based approach to dietetic practice
2.2 Expert Practice: Applies the nutrition care process based on the expectations and priorities of clients
2.3 Expert Practice: Influences food systems to improve the nutritional status of client
4.1 Collaborative Practice: Communicates appropriately with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, organisational and professional backgrounds
4.2 Collaborative Practice: Builds capacity of and collaborates with others to improve nutrition and health outcomes

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

NUT501 and enrolled in program MC001

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

It is assumed that students will have prior knowledge of quantitative and qualitative dietary assessment, and basic anthropometry measurement.

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

Online workshops and on-campus intensive weeks provide opportunity for students to practice interviewing skills and gain peer and teacher feedback on progress.

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 1 Portfolio Group 25%
25 minutes
Week 6 Online Submission
All 2 Portfolio Individual 35%
10 minutes
1500 words
Week 11 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Activity Participation Individual 40%
30 minutes
Exam Period To be Negotiated
All - Assessment Task 1:Case Study
Goal:
To apply the nutrition care process in the delivery of medical nutrition therapy to an individual with a clinical disease or nutrition disorder.
Product: Portfolio
Format:
Multimedia presentation to convey the application of the nutrition care process for an individual with a specified clinical disease or nutrition disorder.

NOTE:NOTE: This assessment task can be chosen as part of Program Portfolio where you will collate various purposefully selected tasks to provide comprehensive information about your progress in developing and attaining Dietitians Australia (DA) competencies for dietetic practice. You will continue to add to your Portfolio over the program, providing a basis for collective decision-making on your progress and stimulating your own learning. You will receive feedback on your progression of your competencies. This will contribute to your global competency assessment for the Master of Dietetics (Sports Nutrition).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Critically evaluate and analyse nutrition assessment information in a given scenario.
1
2
Demonstrate the ability to recognise and prioritise nutrition problems based on appropriate interpretation of all relevant assessment data.
2
3
Use a client-centred approach in the application of medical nutrition therapy that is culturally responsive and safe.
2
4
Appropriately use evidence to justify a nutrition intervention plan that is appropriately monitored and evaluated.
1
5
Express clearly reasoned viewpoints that is logical and supported with credible evidence.
1
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 2:Behaviour modification plan
Goal:
The goal of this task is to demonstrate your written and verbal communications skills through the application behaviour change theory to facilitate behaviour change.
Product: Portfolio
Format:
You will apply learnings from course content by analysing the individual's health behaviour information, needs and beliefs and develop an individualised behaviour modification plan using best evidence and theory.

NOTE: This assessment task can be chosen as part of Program Portfolio where you will collate various purposefully selected tasks to provide comprehensive information about your progress in developing and attaining Dietitians Australia (DA) competencies for dietetic practice. You will continue to add to your Portfolio over the program, providing a basis for collective decision-making on your progress and stimulating your own learning. You will receive feedback on your progression of your competencies. This will contribute to your global competency assessment for the Master of Dietetics (Sports Nutrition).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Formulate a lifestyle behaviour modification plan that appropriately applies behaviour modification theory.
2 3
2
Use effective counselling and communication skills to negotiate a relevant person-centred lifestyle goal.
2 4
3
Professionally communicate thoughts clearly and fluently in both written and spoken form.
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3: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: Activity Participation
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.

NOTE: Feedback from the interview can be chosen as part of Program Portfolio where you will collate various purposefully selected tasks to provide comprehensive information about your progress in developing and attaining Dietitians Australia (DA) competencies for dietetic practice.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Display critical judgement in the application of knowledge of nutrition science, health and disease, food and food preparation methods in the delivery of nutrition care.
1
2
Demonstrates critical evaluation of nutrition assessment information to inform a targeted, evidence-based nutrition intervention in collaboration with a client.
2
3
Use of tailored communication to enhance a client's understanding of the nutrition education provided whilst maintaining professional language.
3
4
Demonstrate effective and appropriate counselling and communication skills to support behaviour change and negotiate an intervention plan in collaboration with a client.
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation

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 4th Cengage Learning
Required Marcia Nelms,Kathryn P. Sucher 2019 Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology Book Only 4th Cengage Learning
Required Rowan Stewart 2022 Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics 7th n/a

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

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:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

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:
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