CCHS A Career in Dietetics Fiona Ryley Community & Sports Dietitian (APD)

CCHS What is an Accredited Practising Dietitian? ‘An Accredited Practising Dietitian is a member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and is a recognised professional who has the qualifications to interpret and communicate the science of nutrition to enable one to make informed and practical changes about food and lifestyle in both health and disease’

CCHS Timeline Completed Yr st Year Bachelor of Biomedical Science nd Year Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics Completed Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics st year working nd year working

CCHS 1 st Year Working Caulfield Community Health Service Private Practice- Doncastor & Footscray Completed Sports Dietetics Course at VIS and Sports Anthropometry Course Worked with VFL Coburg Tigers End of Worked at Inner South Community Health Service

CCHS 2 nd Year Working Caulfield Community Health Service Inner South Community Health Service Victorian Institute of Sport SND (Hockey, Rowing, Cricket)

CCHS How Did I Get My Jobs? Caulfield Community Health Service Inner South Community Health Service Coburg Football Club Victorian Institute of Sport

CCHS How Do I Apply Knowledge of Science In My Job? Everyday! Every client I see! Dietary advice has to given in consideration the effect of that food on client’s body, taking into consideration all medical conditions/history, medications Interpreting biochemistry Looking at hydration/carbohydrate and rates of absorption Using clinical studies/journals for best practice

CCHS A Career in Dietetics A degree in dietetics allows you to have many different types of jobs: –Clinical –Community –Sports –Industry & Marketing –Private Practice –Project Officer How did I decide?

CCHS Community Caulfield Community Health Service Outreach Dietitian 1:1 consultations with all adults referred on a range of nutrition related conditions and diseases eg: –Wt loss or recent loss of weight –Heart disease –Diabetes –Gastrointestinal problems –Modified textured diet –General healthy eating and meal preparation advice Working with people from SRS’s, Rooming houses (drug and alcohol issues, mental and physical disabilities, instable housing etc)

CCHS Community Caulfield Community Health Service Health Promotion activities with outreach populations: –Meal Deal –Menu planning within SRS’s –Food Security Working Parties in local council –Development of EFR guide Other health promotion activities include: –Healthy eating and lifestyle group 4 x year –Conducting nutritional risk screening for staff –Conducting evaluations of program (e.g Meal Deal) –Supervision of 4 th year dietetic students –Conducting talks to different populations and organisations in the community –Up-skilling of CCHS staff –Policy and resource development to improve quality of nutrition service (service review)

CCHS Community Inner South Community Health Service 1:1 consultations with ages (including children) on a range of nutrition related conditions and diseases –Mainly working with mental health clients who have significant weight gain from psychotropic medications –General healthy eating, menu planning, life skills Educating staff on ‘nutritional risk screening’ Development of nutrition resources (eg. Mental health nutrition manual) Development and maintenance of nutritional social marketing strategies

CCHS Sports VIS Presenting talks on various topics to assist with maximising health, performance and recovery during professional sport for players, coaches and parents –Women’s hockey -Talent Search rowing (mixed) -Women’s cricket -Coaches nutrition lunch Development of education material Consulting on food provided at team dinners/social occasions/ after training/before during and after games

CCHS Plans for the Future- Where Dietetics Can Take You……. Whistler, Canada –Currently trying to seek connections to work with professional skiers and snowboarders UK –Work to earn money for travel –Just had HPC papers approved –Am currently investigating locum companies Career goals when I get back? –Who knows?

CCHS My Advice Try to observe what a Dietitian does in a range of settings to gain a understanding of different types of jobs Don’t rule out anything! All experience is a learning experience Try to keep as many doors open in your 1 st years working Always network where you can Be enthusiastic Be willing to volunteer for sports things in the sports area initially- Join SDA Find someone you trust as a mentor to ask all your dumb questions- you don’t learn if you don’t ask Learn from your mistakes and think about how you will do things differently next time If you don’t like working with people- don’t do dietetics!

CCHS Any Questions?